Mountain Weekly News ~

JACKSON, WYO – Word on the street is there is about to be a major shakeup in the snowboard feature film world, specially in regards to Brain Farm Cinema and Red Bull.

The video shown below according to Lib Tech (Travis Rice’s board sponsor) is “from day 723 of production aptly called “Day 723″; It’s a quick look back on the adventure so far, a double back rodeo down memory lane if you will”.

Has Brain Farm really spent 723 days filming this video or the entire series, if so that has to come at a hefty cost to Red Bull which has heavily sponsored/released the shooting and production of these movies in the past. And with that brings us to the rumor currently floating around the industry. Keep in mind this is my blog before you start sending me death threats and getting your panties all up in a bunch. It’s just snowboarding after all..

Is the Fourth Phase up for sale?

Rumor has it that Red Bull audited Jackson, WY based Brain Farm Cinemas which was apparently spending Red Bull’s money as fast as black Americans are being thrown out of Donald Trump rallies. Yea I just went there, but you get the point right.

How Much Do Heli’s cost to rent anyways..

Helicopter tach hour meters are known to run credit card bill into dept quickly. Last time I was in Haines, Alaska the going rate was around $4,000 an hour for the heli. In Telluride, Helitrax Heli Skiing offers filming rates at $5200 an hour with a 2 hour minimum.

With the numbers above you can begin to see how a project like this can get expensive quickly. Now I don’t believe Brain Farm has their own Heli, odds are the ones you see in the videos are actually just wrapped in a giant sticker. With that comes another added cost.

When you combine the heli cost mentioned alone with the big trucks, snowmobiles and all the other toys cameras and gear this crew is routinely rolling around town with one starts to wonder just how much money can be generated from a snowboard movie anyways? Is it enough to pay for these guys to film for 723…

We shall see.

The post Did Red Bull Sell The Fourth Phase Out From Under Brain Farm? appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

JACKSON, WYO – Sliding around on snow is a great activity for anyone under 18 years of age, for the rest of us it may be worse than any drug imaginable. And here’s why:

I got introduced to snowboarding around the age of 14, thanks to my mom paying the way on our annual ski trips. To be honest we really couldn’t afford to be going to a destination ski resort, however credit cards did wonders and getting out of Los Angeles for a few days was surely refreshing to my moms soul.

Planting seeds

Unbeknownst to her and everyone around us my mom and other liked minded parents stated planting seeds that would germinate for over 2 decades, at least in my case.

So when I was old enough to move away, I knew I wanted to live in a ski town. Sound familiar? I clearly remember seeing all the happy young adults working what looked like fun jobs, they had unique accents and I literally couldn’t wait to live in a ski town and be just like them.

And then I become a local, and realized everyone was working 2 jobs just to get by. I moved to the mountains to snowboard, get drunk and dive head first into the Apre ski scene that looks so sexy to visitors. I quickly realized that moving to ski town meant spending more time working than playing.

I has been fooled.

Well it didn’t take long for the alcoholic in me to become a pro, move to a ski town and you will learn how to hold your liquor. Shit we drink at altitude, and most of us are athletes so operating hung over or drunk for that matter became the norm. As did spending too much money on bar tabs and shitty apre ski food. It’s what we were taught to do from a young age, sorry mom.

But this article isn’t about being a ski town drunk, I already covered that a few months back. What this article is supposed to do is be an eye opener for anyone reading this. Maybe a wake up call perhaps. I surely just had my ah-ha moment..

I may never snowboard again, and I am ok with that. Are you?

Breaking through the surface

So what happened? Well when you stress about money, bills and did I mention money it starts to become hard to say yeah lets go snowboard. That will make everything better right?

No it won’t!

If anything the time you spend snowboarding could be spent working. Starting a business, volunteering or doing just about anything that’s not as self centered as snowboarding.

The only reason I got introduced to this sport and probably you too is because my mom worked her ass off. She would leave the house every day around 6:30am and return 12 hours later. This went on for decades and decades and decades.. I wish I had 1/10th her work ethic.

And it wasn’t just a M-F gig, weekends especially Sundays were work from home days. Vacation you say, my mom was ALWAYS still working. It became a joke can you really not pay attention to work for a couple days? Sure if you never want to take these trips…

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever had a ski pass it would be safe to say you grew up in a middle class household. Do you consider yourself middle class these days? When lift tickets start costing $100+ it’s not designed for the working class anymore.

Personally I made less than $18,000 last year between my full time job as editor of the Mountain Weekly News and 30 hours a week unclogging toilets / doing maintenance throughout the summer. It’s not poverty levels, but its damn close.

Odds are there’s not a single person in the country that makes under 20k a year that’s thinking hey lets go snowboarding. That is unless you live in a ski town and have drank the punch.

Has the flower bloomed?

So after 15 years of living in a ski town what do I have. Aside from some major injuries and surgeries, (which all came from snowboarding) I did manage to start my own business, I realized that being an addicted to alcohol was more of a social thing than a physical addiction for me. Most importantly though, I have come to the conclusion that I can’t afford to live in any town in this country that has a ski resort, real estate has been the name of the game as of late and I have always been priced out. Even as a renter it’s been a struggle.

30 years ago you could have pulled it off, 20 years ago it was doable, 10 years ago it was tough, these days I really wonder how anyone can be a ski bum aside from getting financial assistance from a parent. Ski bumming seems to be dead.

At 35 years old I finally realized how much of my life has been taken away due to snowboarding. Due to my addiction for powder days, face shots and serenity.

To my friends in the industry, are you surprised by this? Last time I checked my landlord didn’t accept high fives and snowboards in trade for rent, I doubt yours do either…

Will I ever strap into a snowboard again? TBD but it surely won’t happen until I have some money in the bank.

At 35 years old I’m finally looking forward to growing up and getting my life together. Or maybe it’s just my ski bum depression rearing it’s ugly head.

To be continued..

The post When it’s time to Grow up and Stop Snowboarding appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

Don’t call it a come back, actually were not sure what to call it but Lib Tech is celebrating 10 years of putting a weird shaped snowboard between peoples feet. The Lib Tech Skate Banana 10 Year anniversary is here.

Lib Tech Skate Banana 10 Year Video

I’m going to be fully up front here, the first time I tried a Lib Tech Skate Banana I had a serious love hate relationship with the snowboard. As much fun as spinning on the Skate Banana was off jumps and catwalks, I could never figure out how to stop the board from spinning. If you live someplace flat and like to shred park, well this board is the jam.

Camber is for skiers, just kidding.. Although that’s sort of how all this started, Mike Olson and Pete Saari started tinkering with Reverse Camber, around the same time Never Summer was! Snowboard politics and lawsuits aside this change in shapes and torsional response was something the snowboard industry needed and eagerly gobbled up.

Wayne Bolte locked in on a Lib Tech Skate Banana | Photo Mike Hardaker Mountain Weekly News

One good thing about a Skate Banana is the board is forgiving when learning new tricks, especially on and off rails and boxes and especially for practicing spins.

To celebrate 10 years of the Lib Tech Skate Banana, Mervin plans to re-release the original 10 year old model. For some snowboarders, this is like Burton making Craig’s boards again, well not really but still pretty freaking sweet.

Lib Tech also makes possibly the best splitboard currently on the market. The T.Rice Goldmember!

Kudos to Mike, Pete, and all the weirdos that live, eat and breathe snowboarding up in Washington. Theses guys make some of the best boards on the market (Lib Tech, GNU) even skis… And they actually turned me into a huge fan of the Banana, well the Banana Magic that is..

Thanks guys! Stoked to see what another 10 years of progression will bring to the shred world.

Another board in the line that should be on everyone’s radar is the Lib Tech Hot Knife snowboard, especially if you live in the NW and like snowboarding deep pow.

The post Lib Tech Skate Banana Hits Puberty appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

The time has come to saddle up on a new board for the impending season. You might not be able to ride it quite yet, but you can cuddle up with it at night, tell it all your hopes and dreams, and fantasize about the first lap of the year together. So which 2017 snowboards are worthy of sliding into bed with you for now and later deploying against the forces of the mountain? We’ve got you covered.

Here’s the best snowboards 2016 / 2017

Like other Arbor models, this stick is hand-crafted with a custom core and an authentic woodgrain topsheet, but what sets the Wasteland apart is its edge-hold, control, and versatility. As their flagship all-mountain snowboard, Arbor has loaded the Wasteland with everything you need to thrive all over the hill. The Parabolic Rocker is perhaps perfection for this profile type as it stays loose, floaty, and playful when you want it and aggressive, stable, and responsive when you need it. A medium flex and twinish shape let you go anywhere and ride anything your little hardcore heart desires. A couple of the grooviest parts of the Wasteland is the unique tips that let you maintain top speeds in the deep stuff and the Grip Tech Sidecut that provides better board feel by moving your main points of snow contact beneath your feet. Take the mountains by storm this winter with the Arbor Wasteland 2017 Snowboard.

Two things really stand out when it comes to this flexy whip. The first is its incredible need to feast on all sorts of features. And the second is its undeniable ability to make you smile when you see the price tag. Seriously, it’s a true miracle that a board with this much flavor can be had for a low cost that will make your wallet breathe a sigh of relief. The Horrorscope employs an Urban Profile that keeps things flat between your feet, puts a bit of reverse camber further out and kicks up the tip/tail. This enables you to impose your will in the streets and throughout the park. Capita knows you’re destined to put this bad boy through the wringer, so that’s why they equipped it with some burly materials and tech beneath the wicked looking topsheet to keep it hanging tough no matter what the snow throws your way.

Dissecting advanced lines like a surgeon, the Billy Goat makes quick work of rugged terrain. Dialed in by Temple Cummins on the steep and twisted slopes of Mt. Baker, this rip stick takes no prisoners. It was built to excel in not just the idyllic conditions of a powder day, but also in the worst weather Mother Nature can conjure. Powerfully precise, you can force the whole hill to bend to your will. Own any spine with controlled aggression or be the first to drop the gnarliest looking chute thanks to the tip to toe stability offered by this beast that was bred on the most unruly of mountains. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that one of our favorite things about GNU boards is that they are all built with environmentally friendly practices. Save the planet while you take it to Old Man Winter with the GNU Billy Goat Snowboard.

One of our favorite powder punishers for the 2017 season is the K2 Joy Driver Snowboard. With a setback stance and rockered tips, this hunk pops pillows with authority. Camber beneath your feet and a super stiff flex let you assert dominance both in the fluff and through the crud. The core of the Joy Driver is one of the best out there as it is constructed with Bambooyah and Honeykomb tech that equals a wildly lightweight and durable ride. K2 is so confident in this board that they even slapped a 5-year warranty on it! That’s almost unheard of in the industry, so how can we not love a powerful powder board that promises to be there for you season after season?

If Travis Rice rides it, then this all-terrain monster deserves a spot in any best of collection. Forged in the crucible that is the mountains of Jackson, Wyoming, the T.Rice pro model is back again for another season of total domination. A stiffer flex pattern and a beautifully blended rocker/camber combo give you the goods to charge any line without hesitation. HP (horsepower) construction shaves weight while keeping all the durability you crave intact. And of course, like other Lib Tech boards, this one comes equipped with Magne-Traction serrated edges that deliver superior edge hold in all kinds of conditions. Team up with T. Rice this year and maybe you’ll score a film deal of your own.

Last, but the opposite of least is the Ride Helix. One look at this wild child and you can be certain it’s unique. Asymmetric board designs have started to catch on over the last couple years and the Helix has shot to the lead of the pack. Both sidecuts are distinct and specially engineered to make turns more natural for a ride that feels native. Loads of pop, a medium flex, and a camber/rocker smoothie make every run your plaything. A Fusion 4000 Base is not only mega tough, but it’s just straight up FAST! Let your freestyle freak flag fly by ferociously attacking any feature you deem worthy of slaughter atop the Ride Helix Snowboard.

There you have it. These have been our picks for the best snowboards of 2016 -2017. Now take your pick and shack up with that beauty, get to know each other intimately, and, when the time comes, prove your bond of love by annihilating some snow!

Here’s the best snowboards 2015 / 2016

We’ve had a blast testing a fresh crop of boards this season, and are ready to declare a select few as most boss. Feast your eyes upon the best of the best, choose your whip, and make this season the most fun collection of snow days on record.

Never Summer Proto is available online (Backcountry $499)

Never Summer Proto Review

It would be impossible to compose a list of the best and not include the Never Summer Proto Snowboard. This rip stick straight up does it all. Seriously, if you like a diverse on-hill itinerary, you have to consider this board. Whether it encounters park, powder, ice, double black diamonds, backcountry, or an urban jibfest, it can dish out legit performance. Never Summer slapped their fastest base ever on this medium flex plank, and it gets everywhere you point it in a hurry. Lightweight and powerful, the Proto can take whatever the mountain dishes out.

Arbor Wasteland is available online(Backcountry $599)

The Who sang about a Teenage Wasteland. Shred heads are singing about the Arbor Wasteland. Those who dig on big mountain riding will experience the bliss of a board built to handle the most rugged terrain when they mount up with this slab. Carbon fiber has been installed at both ends to provide ample pop and truly impressive durability to help you rule any run. A rockered shape slays powder with ruthless precision. Grab the Arbor Wasteland Snowboard and issue the backcountry a real butt kicking.

Lib Tech Half Cap Review

Considering that Lib Tech makes so many dominant models, it is hard to pick just one. But since an industry legend is heavily involved with this piece, we will go with the Lib Tech Jamie Lynn Half Cap snowboard. There are a lot of crazy board profiles out there these days, but the Half Cap just features some good ol’ dominant camber that unloads a wicked thrashing of the whole hill. Featuring some earth-friendly EnvironMENTAL Construction, this all-mountain machine of destruction maximizes torsional control so you can dissect the most technical lines with authority.

Burton Custom Flying V order at (Backcountry $599)

Burton Custom Flying V Review

In case you haven’t heard, the Burton Custom Flying V Snowboard is kind of a big deal. It’s back again this season with even more of a ferocious attitude and deep hunger for the ultimate decimation of every slice of snow it sniffs. Superior edge-hold, crazy pop, and trustworthy handling in all conditions highlight this perennial fixture on the podium. The Burton Custom Flying V might not be the most creative choice, but nobody has ever ridden it and been able to keep the smile off their face.

Yes Greats available online (Backcountry $311)

How about something a little different? If the Yes Greats snowboard looks a tad funky, that’s because it is. Funky fresh! This mean mountain masher has an asymmetrical shape that hyperactively accelerates your shred game to an all new level of radness. Traditionally shaped snowboards have a natural tendency to overturn on the toe side, but thanks to the unique structure of The Greats, that propensity has been eliminated for a more balanced ride. There is no hunk of the hill this board can’t obliterate, and it’s all thanks to Yes.

If you dig on the playful end of the spectrum, you won’t find more fun than the Slash Happy Place snowboard. All kinds of buttery, and full of poppy/pressy goodness, the Happy Place is perfect for all you freestyle freaks. A snappy core combines with CamRock tech and a super tough base to make this the ideal park piece. Unleash your entire bag of tricks with this smooth stick from Slash.

There are a lot of wicked new snowboards for the 2014/2015 season, but these are six of the best. Pick the one that tickles your fancy so you can get out there and crush some snow. Last year we nailed it with our Best Snowboards of 2014 (see below).

Here’s the best snowboards 2014 / 2015

We know you’ve been waiting hear who staked up to make the top 5 best snowboards list. So, here’s the 5 top-rated boards to ad to your wish list this year:

Jones Mountain Twin (Backcountry $499)
Jones Mountain Twin Review

The Jones Mountain Twin is an all-mountain versatile board that rides anything. Get into every nook and cranny with the Jones Mountain Twin. From big drops to tight lines this board works for tricks, through the backcountry and lends itself to most any riders riding style. The Jones Mountain Twin is a playful board that’s ready when you want to go out for a long session. Built with a twin shape and directional chamber rocker profile set slightly back for the benefits of a twin, with a little extra power that handles any terrain.

Never Summer SL (Backcountry $509.99)

Never Summer SL Review

Never Summer SLis a freestyle board meant to take you all over the mountain and through the park. If you’re into hitting some sick tricks and cutting through the backcountry this board is built for the ride. Designed with a directional twin shape and a directional flex for easy switch landings the Never Summer SL floats on powder with a medium flex so you can maneuver with ease. The Never Summer rocker camber design makes for a loose feel with extra pop off kickers and control for freestyle riding in and out of the park. Lightweight wooden core fused with durable hardwood makes this board sturdy for a fast, hard and playful ride.

Lib Tech T. Rice (Backcountry $696.95)

Lib Tech T. Rice Pro is an all-terrain freestyle board made for Travis himself, and others who shred. The twin sheet deck is handcrafted with two different nose shapes: one is blunted, one is pointed. Includes a power banana camber combo profile shape and delivers medium pressure with a camber under each foot contact point for a ride that’s buttery like breakfast toast. The Lib Tech board was designed by pro rider Travis Rice himself with medium flex for excellent float on pow. Power transfer internal sidewalls beef up your ride for added durability that fits your aggressive style.

Buy the Arbor Coda at Backcountry ($499.95)

Arbor Coda Review

Arbor Coda features a bamboo top sheet that makes for a smooth ride all over the mountain. Made with a tip ‘n tail profile, it’s got extra fun float on powder. Built around an award-winning mountain system rocker design the Arbor Coda features grip tech side cut technology and a parabolic rocker profile. Made with superior edge control, bamboo reinforcements and original artwork by Tadashi Ura this board serves up a zen-like style that can handle your aggressive riding. Made for serious riders and dominating performance in any terrain you’ll be able to destroy kickers, ride powder, get through tight trees and handle technical riding with unmatched durability and speed.

GNU Riders Choice (Backcountry $549.95)

GNU Riders Choice Review

Gnu Riders Choice goes anywhere with a freestyle influence. Twin shaped deck and C2 BTX profile shape delivers a solid amount of camber between feet points and on the nose & tail for stability and tons of pop. The Gnu Riders Choice goes in and out of the pipe and park or through the backcountry, if you want with a mid to stiff flex rating and a wood core that handles hard-hitting styles. The asymmetrical edge with a side-cut radius was made with your ripping in mind. This board is great for regular and goofy footed riders.

Although it didn’t make the list we have been enjoying riding the best Never Summer snowboard in powder, aka the aptly named Snow Trooper

2015 Never Summer Snowtrooper Snowboard Review

The post Best Snowboards for 2016 – 2017 appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Andrew Tillery.

Mountain Weekly News ~

Wondering what the heck is going on this winter with snow or lack there of? The first thing you have to understand is what is La Nina. La Nina is weather pattern characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Pacific ocean. During a La Nina winter, temperatures are warmer than normal in the Southeast and cooler than normal in the Northwest.

This Snowboarder is Stoked on La Nina Winters – Mt. Baker Backcountry Photo Mike Hardaker

Back in 2011 I rolled the dice and moved our office to Mt. Baker as NOAA long range models showed a strong the La Nina setting up for the 2011/2012 season. And wow did it ever pay off! The Mt. Baker Ski Area received a total of 857 inches of snow that year, it was magical, it was deep and the other 90% of the country was uber bummed most of the season with a lack of snow..

The graph directly above shows a 3 month precipitation outlook for the United States of America. Which is exactly what we expect to see during a La Lina winter. Places in the North will see lots of snow and possibly even rain depending on their elevation.

So where should you go to find snow this winter?

Mt. Baker Ski Area – Washington

Acres – 1,000
Annual Snowfall – 641” on an average year…
Vertical Feet – 1,589
Peak Elevation – 5,089

Resort Notes: So why Mt. Baker? The place is legendary when it comes to snow. Scoring Baker on a powder day or during a deep snow cycle will make you laugh at wherever you currently call home. The place is damp, wet, and there is not much do to but shred, eat good Italian food at Milano’s, attempt to dry off (keyword here attempt), eat, sleep, repeat. Not only is the ski area one of the best for freeriding, the surrounding backcountry is massive and there are plenty of lines that will question your sanity. Fly on the Wall comes to mind!

Whitewater Ski Resort – Nelson, BC

Acres – 1184
Annual Snowfall – 480
Vertical Feet – 2044
Peak Elevation – 6,710

Resort Notes: Ever been to Nelson? If not, this is the year to head up to BC as Whitewater Ski Resort tends to do really well in La Nina winters based on their location and high elevation. Plus the coffee up there is legit, its Canada and if you haven’t eaten Poutine yet, get ready it’s super addictive, uber unhealthy and perfect after long days lapping the resort or touring in the surrounding backcountry. The people in Nelson are hippie friendly, super sweet and uber lucky to call that part of the world home.

Schweitzer Mountain – Northern Idaho

Acres – 2900
Annual Snowfall – 300
Vertical Feet – 2400
Peak Elevation – 6,400

Resort Note: You might be thinking, Northern Idaho really? You bet, last time La Nina rolled around this sleepy little resort picked up 422″ of snow. I have yet to actually ride Schweitzer Mountain, and the people I know that do are pretty tight lipped about the area. Its not wonder as 75% of the mountain caters to Intermediate to Expert terrain. Along with an open gate policy that allows access to 200 acres of the Selkirk Mountains, this may be a solid place to post up for the season or while chasing storms across the northern part of the country.

North Cascade Heli – Mazama, WA

Resort Notes: They’re ain’t any chair lifts here, and odds are likely you have never heard of Mazama, WA and were willing to be the locals are ok with that. This is where North Cascade Heli skiing is based out of (on the “dry side” of the Cascades). Mazama and the surrounding towns are one of the biggest cross country skiing hubs in North America and a place that gets lots of snow. The community could have easily become another destination ski resort however the locals fought back and placed a conservative easement on the proposed ski area land. So it looks like one of the snowiest places in the country will continue to remain a secret.

Jackson Hole – WY

Acres – 2900
Annual Snowfall – 450
Vertical Feet – 4139
Peak Elevation – 10,450

Resort Notes: Word is out on the street about Jackson Hole these days. Lots of snow, challenging terrain and a big red Tram! Even with a neutral winter JHMR averages 450″ of snow annually. With the resort high upper elevation runs and ability to trap storms against the Tetons, spending some time in Jackson from late Dec – early March ought to be deliver the goods. Plus there is always Teton Pass, Grand Targhee National Park and the locals secret over at Grand Targhee. Indian summer is currently setting up in this part of the country, when the snow returns it will stay for a while, go out and enjoy the sunshine while you can!

Whistler Blackcomb

Acres – 8,171
Annual Snowfall – 461
Vertical Feet – 5278
Peak Elevation – 7,493

Resort Notes: Whistler is due for a big snow year! Last La Nina saw almost 500″ of snow up at Whistler Blackcomb. With tons of terrain options and lots of different elevations across the resorts odds are likely you will find fresh snow here. And for all you Epic Pass holders, this is a no-brainer. Colorado will be getting no snow, while Whistler is getting nuked on. I really don’t want to have to say “I told you so”..

Bridger Bowl – Bozeman, MT

Acres – 2,000
Annual Snowfall – 350
Vertical Feet – 2,700
Peak Elevation – 8,700

Resort Notes: One day when I leave the Tetons, odds are most likely it will be to spend time shredding Bridger Bowl. This place is legendary yet some how flies under the radar of a lot of powder hounds.. With arguably some of the best hike to terrain that any resort in North America has, a lack of crowds and tons of warm (well actually its bitter cold here) Montana hospitality, you really can’t go wrong by planning a trip to this part of the world for skiing. Especially during cold, wet winters.. This is the perfect storm for a place like Bridger, that actually has a lift that requires you to be using a transceiver before going up the mountain, talk about getting rowdy.

Best of luck this winter.. Leave a comment below if this article helps you find snow or if you think I am off my rocker!!

The post 7 Places to Get Pitted This La Nina appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

I suck at reviews and don’t want to become better. I buy and use gear I like, and it is superior to your gear unless we are rocking the same kit in which case superiority reigns equal. At least that’s how I perceive it. Why spend my money on something I think from the get-go is inferior, of course my gear is the shit! With that said, I am a fairly-friendly, partially-souled redhead who responds to all gear queries with “oh I love it” because I do love my setup and what I’m thinking will offend you.

Nate’s “My shit is better than yours” ‘10-’16 Top 4 Gear Review List. (These are in no particular order as they are all #1 in my eyes. Go gear, make papa proud, yay!)

Freeride Systems Antero 2 and 2+

Freeride Systems jackets are made in Colorado with a truly simple, well-thought out, and effective design. The new 2+ offers a lightweight Neoshell version weighing only 19.25 oz. in large and is becoming the only one I wear. The algorithm of outerwear superiority or K-factor is simple D+I+C=K D is distance item traveled, I is item weight, C is $ equaling K. I bet mine is smaller than yours 539.25. Unless you are rocking Voormi or some old school Wave Rave, go take a lap.

Furberg Freeride

The most versatile and game changing freeride boards you’ll ever ride aka a Furberg! Multiple lap inducing and best to have a Freeride Systems Antero jacket on. Ride one and see! Editors note: Nate does not work for Freeride, he is a fan boy however. Either way go checkout my freeride split review!

Now Binders

It’s like skateboarding, brah…the kingpin shit and stuff. That old French dude with the beard owns them, Terje something. I sometimes rock them with the no-backs just like he does, such a surfy feel yo. Editors note: Which NOW’s? Either way you get the point here, NOW makes the best snowboard binding on the market, whats up JF, you splitboard….

Freeride Systems Touring and Hiking System

This one will be updated. I just had a cool discovery regarding its configuration, sub 4 lbs. for shovel, probe, and vertical carry system all tucked away into a fanny pack hidden under my jacket. It’s better than lugging around your backpack.

Honorable mention must go to the industry as a whole because everybody deserves a participation ribbon. Thanks for helping me buy the best shit!

Happy New Year,

The post Nate’s My Snowboard Gear is Better Than Yours List? WTF!? appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Big Perm.

Mountain Weekly News ~

We updated our annual list of the best splitboards of the year. Here are a few you’ll want to add to your bird-spotting list, presented by the Mountain Weekly. One caveat though, a bunch of these splitboards will be tough to get your hands.. 16/17 Splitboard Watch-list

Lib Tech Travis Rice Goldmember

It’s a Lib Tech, it’s a Travis Rice, and thank goodness its graphics don’t involve any more thoughtful catamaran.

While the nautical musings have been left on the cutting room floor, the camber profile on the TRGM does resemble a seagull in flight, with elongated camber and shortened rocker improving your glide and float. Think shorter wingspan with revved up performance, a terrific snag and addition to your backcountry quiver.

Olive Splitzo

The latest addition to the Olive split portfolio, the Splitzo is a progressively cambered all-mountain board that bridges the gap between freestyle and freeride; You don’t need to choose one or the other, the divide effectively closed between your fave backcountry disciplines. Hits and hips, big lines and drops, the Splitzo has all your neuroses and paranoia covered with this pill of a splitboard.

Never Summer 25 Split

I can’t wait to get in the backseat with the Blaho Bros. “Bat Tail” on this ‘board. The low-pro, notched butt-end of this Never Summer split is designed to drop your backside just enough to porpoise your nose up and out of the pow as you break the white wake down the mountain. Cool design, utility graphics, this is a sleek black shredder of a ride.

Spline Killer Split

Justim Lamoureux’s brainchild, Spline boards are research, design, and engineering refined mountain killers. Since its inception, The Killer Split (a split version of the signature Quiver Killer) has seen more peaks in and around the Squamish-Whistler corridor than you can shake a stick at. A carbon infused fiberglass blend keeps things lightweight and poppy, and the one off custom resin tints are bee-yoo-tee-full.

Venture Zelix

They’re baaaack! After a season in limbo the Branners are back waving the Venture Snowboards Banner from l’il old Silverton Colorado. The Zelix is another terrific model-mash design, blending freestyle and freeride chops into a great do-it-all deck. Combining legendary durability with cottage industry know-how, great to see these guys back on the map.

Plum Splitboards

Plum still seems to be suffering from pretty crap distribution in North America, but if you can put in the time and legwork the products are worth it. Know more for their Feyan split bindings, Plum also makes some sweet splitboards for the aspiring mountaineer in all of us. Family owned and genuinely French, these decks are designed for burly, Alp-y terrain.

Oz Fantasy Blaster

I guess it’s a pretty good sign when a brand sells through its entire production run this early in the season… renowned for their custom ‘board options, Oz has several splitboard models, from the asymmetric OzSym to this, the Fantasy Blaster. Flat, fat and floaty, this carbon enhanced split looks as dreamy as its graphics suggest.

Splitboards and splitboarding have grown up a bit now, and the awkward, web-footed, clumsy contraptions have morphed into some pretty good looking ganders.

Past winners below:

Never Summer: Prospector Split

Full-disclosure here, I’ve coveted my friends’ Never Summer splits for a while. US-made, Colorado-made, whatever, my interest has more to do with what I can only guess is the “elastomeric underfoot stabilizers” working in concert with an encyclopedia-worth of other tech and comfort features; There are no heated seats, but the dampening effect underfoot on the downhill, and the rocker profile when climbing, are design considerations you can actually feel doing what they’re supposed to. I’d probably switch out the Chinese hooks for K-clips, but would be hard-pressed to mod anything else. Never Summer altered the industry with multiyear warranties, and they stand behind a dang good product.

Venture Snowboards: Whatever you can find

Two of our favorite people in the shred world, Lisa and Klem Branner Photo Transworld Business

Oh, Venture. Silverton, Colorado-manufactured radness, I rode Venture boards for eight years. While they’re taking a hiatus this season, there are lots of long-term Venture fans hoping that Klem, Lisa and the crew will stage a comeback. The Storm split was my go-to board in the Himalayas, throughout BC and the U.S, while more recently the Odin has been great fun while integrating some trickery into my bag of backcountry moves. While watching for a Venture this year may be like Waiting For Guffman or bagging a unicorn, it’s a classy brand that has a reputation for solid, bomb-proof product. Consider yourself lucky if you can find one available at secondhand!

Lib Tech: Travis Rice Split HP

Aside from producing some of the best boards in the world, Mervin Manufacturing also has some of the best infographics. Horses flying aeroplanes? Awesome. If you’re looking for a splitboard that features industry-leading ecological construction, proven technological performance (Magne-Traction, etc) and an established reputation as a multi-year production model, this is a board you’ll want to check out. Made in the USA and with an obvious connection between Travis and Wyoming, expect to see this Parillo-spiced top-sheet on skin-tracks throughout the region.

Arbor: Abacus Split

I love Arbor’s design aesthetic; their decks always look like they’d be totally relaxed sitting in a micro-roastery surrounded by distressed-wood-pallet walls and masonry jars full of micro-brewed shaving lather… So yeah, they make beautiful, hip boards, but the artisanal vibe doesn’t end at the top-sheet, it’s at work throughout the entire split. The Abacus bonds an old-world craftsman vibe with real-world materials, their Wyoming-heavy pro-team vetting the boards and getting the goods; Mark Carter and Bryan Iguchi are no slouches, the Abacus sticking it to lazy koalas by way of a genuine eucalyptus top-sheet and a variety of other mind-full materials. In all seriousness, though, their ecology-based mindset is inspiring, their “Returning Roots” program a great way to give back.

Jones: Explorer Split

The Explorer Split is a terrifically versatile entry-level splitboard. The design isn’t that of an over-the-top, concept-heavy quiver addition, rather, it’s a well-designed stepping-stone for those new to the backcountry or to folks on a reasonable budget. Like the Lib Tech Travis Rice Split, the Explorer features Magne-Traction (albeit a more mellow version), and the finished product incorporates some thoughtful environmental considerations, too; recycled steel edges, Bio-wax factory wax, and a 1% For The Planet commitment. I also like the skins-tensioning notches built into the design, a nice way to cut down on overloading the swear-jar when making tracks!

Olive: Numbchuck Split

Both a color and a garnish, Olive has been pressing skateboards and snowboards for two decades in Edmonton, Alberta. Their Numbchuck split features an elongated nose and shorter, flat tail. The overall profile is flat giving you great float in the deep stuff while holding an edge when you need it. As a small brand it’s unlikely you’ll see it in a shop near you, but the US-Canadian exchange rate is so screamingly good right now this is a split you may want to snag for your quiver. I mean, nunchucks? Who are we to say no? K-clips lock this unit together and it is Jasper-approved.

Furberg: Freeride Split

Made in Norway, Furberg is advancing some pretty cool design features into their ‘boards, and the Freeride Split benefits from the bunch of them. Never mind it looks like a bleached pickle, the innovative sidecut, camber and materials selection has already won them some serious accolades in big-mountain Euro circles. My buddy Wiggles just wrapped up a season in New Zealand and is officially a Furberg super-fan, the man usually destroying a board or three each season; his Freeride split is returning to Canada intact, something to be said for durability in design.

The post Best Splitboards of 2016 appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Tyler Bradley.

Mountain Weekly News ~

We’ve all been that guy at one point or another, the guy that’s the liability when you’re in the backcountry. The guy who forgets his beacon and doesn’t notice until the beacon check at the trailhead; or the guy leaving the inbounds gate to do a quick sidecountry lap without avy-gear because “it’s OK, I’ve done this run hundreds of times”; or the guy who stops in the middle of a steep powder field to take a picture of all his buddies behind him…

Most times, we get away with it, but an easy mistake, like ignoring group dynamics on the ascent, or not reading the avalanche forecast before heading out, can quickly turn into the most costly mistake of our lives. So that being said here’s the most important elements necessary to make sure you are not that guy.

Avalanche Education

by Sarah Borup
Backcountry skiing is the winter sports industry’s fastest-growing segment. This growth in backcountry skiing has left many in the industry concerned. More people are leaving mountain boundaries in search of untracked turns. About 1 in every 5 skiers and snowboarders explored some sort of backcountry terrain last year (about 3.2 million people).

Unfortunately, not all skiers heading further off-piste are properly equipped or trained. And all the gear in the world can’t replace preparedness, knowledge and cautious decision-making. In 2013-2014 skiers spent $40 million on touring equipment – an 8% annual increase in units sold and dollars, and backcountry accessories sales – beacons, probes, shovels, etc. – are (thankfully) increasing at an even more rapid clip, up 12% in 2013-14

If you’re accessing (or plan to access) the backcountry, hopefully you’ve already taken an avalanche course. If not, I can count 41 reasons why you should: 35 U.S. avalanche fatalities last season and 6 already recorded this season including a snowboarder in Utah that died last week while riding in the backountry without an avalanche beacon.

Field portion of a Jackson Hole Mountain Guides AIARE Course Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News

What to Expect

The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) offers Avalanche Awareness and Avalanche Safety courses appropriate for riders “frequenting avalanche terrain via lift access or easily accessible backcountry” or heading to “near country.” If you’re doing anything beyond that, you need the AIARE 1 Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain.

An introduction to avalanche hazard management course will run you about $350-$400. You’re worth it. It’s 3-days with a combined total of 24 hours in the classroom and field. Get the friends you often tour with and make a weekend out of it. You’ll walk away knowing how to: Plan and prepare for travel in avalanche terrain; Recognize avalanche terrain; Describe a basic framework for making decisions in avalanche terrain; Learn and apply effective companion rescue. It’s hands on. You’ll learn in the classroom and implement in the field. You’ll work as a team to make the right decisions depending on the conditions. It includes access to an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe, although you really should have these items if you are serious about getting into the backcountry. And if you’ve got a thirst for knowledge, you can continue your avalanche education with levels 2 and 3 (professional).

Avalanche Training Gets a Boost from Brands and Athletes

The accessibility of backcountry gear and the increasingly well-documented tours of pro skiers and riders are undoubtedly influencing the sport’s popularity. As they shine the spotlight on unspoiled terrain and put more backcountry products into the market, they have a growing responsibility to educate their customers. Brands and athletes are taking notice.

While it doesn’t seem to be operating now, Elyse Saugstad, Ingrid Backstrom, Michelle Parker, Jackie Paaso, Lel Tone and Sherry McConkey put together S.A.F.E. A.S. Women’s Introductory Clinic on Avalanche and Snow Safety to increase awareness and ensure women, too, have the right skills.

Salomon and Atomic announced a substantial initiative in this regard: Mountain Academy, an online backcountry education platform launching Fall 2015. According to Backcountry Magazine, it will feature “two online modules of 80 instructional videos” created in partnership with AIARE focused on backcountry terrain, avalanche scenarios, snowpack and gear. It’s free with the purchase of gear from either brand or around $40 with a portion of proceeds donated back to avalanche centers and educational programs. It’s no replacement for a course, but let’s you learn and brush up online. Another cool option that we have been digging on lately is the Avalanche Mastery series, its free, packed with tons of great knowledge about how to avoid avalanches and chock full of European humor..

If you already have ventured into the backcountry or are thinking about it, do yourself (and your friends a favor). Take an avalanche course. Soon.

Need more reason?
Did you know that avalanches kill more than 150 people every year? Nearly all of those deaths are preventable with proper education and safety practices. Even though avalanches seem like they happen without warning, there are many ways to tell if the area that you’re in is currently vulnerable to avalanches.

Anyone who spends time in the mountains in the winter is in danger of being in an avalanche, but those at the highest risk are backcountry skiers and snowboarders, snowmobilers, and climbers. These are the people who aren’t in ski areas, where there is professional avalanche control. Even if you’re in a ski area boundary, you could still be in danger if there has been a large amount of snowfall or if you’re very high, near the summit of a mountain.

Taking an avalanche safety course is the best way to make sure that you’re prepared to deal with the unexpected. In this type of course, you will learn about snow conditions and how to judge them, and how to make good decisions in the backcountry. If you take a higher-level course, you’ll also learn avalanche rescue techniques and risk mitigation. Most people won’t take a course higher than Level 1 (as defined by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center), but being more educated always means that you’re safer.

If you’re looking to take an avalanche safety course, you’re certainly in the right state.

For one list of courses, you can check here: the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. A simple online search will also give you many results for where to sign up for a class. Many classes are offered by guide services and mountain schools, two very reputable providers. When looking for class, make sure that the instructors are certified and experienced.

Whether you’re a big mountain backcountry skier, a recreational snowmobiler, or a first-time backcountry climber, make sure to be educated about avalanches before you head out into the field and insist that all of your companions are, too. The more we all know about avalanche safety, the safer we all are.

Avalanche gear

To attend a Level 1 class, you will need basic gear, which you can rent most likely from the same organization offering your class. But if you want to be serious about venturing into the backcountry, you should be ready to buy at least the basics.

Now what is considered basic gear? It used to be at least three items: beacon, shovel, and probe. However, recent advancements in technology have some arguing that an avalanche airbag should be added to this list. It’s hard to argue against the effectiveness of airbags, and the bottom line is, if you can afford one there’s no reason not to have one. There are several offerings for avalanche gear, with more coming out each season, which means that gear is not only getting better but cheaper.

Beacons: They started as clunky devices, with limited frequency and were so hard to use only French guides knew the esoteric nuisances of handling them appropriately. Today on the other hand, digital beacons are as easy to use as your smart phone; all you need to do is practice using it very often.

For example this year’s Mountain Weekly News “Editor’s Choice” for a beacon is the Link Avalanche Beacon from ARVA. This French company, in the market for 25 years, is just making a splash in the North American market, but with offerings like this, they should be here for a while. Priced at $450 USD, this beacon is fit for multiple burial searches with the mark/unmark feature, and with the crucial automatic switch to transmit mode.

Airbags: After several generations of these backpacks in the U.S. market, Black Diamond has come out this season with an iteration that is by far the most advanced and convenient. The Black Diamond Halo backpacks use the new JetForce technology that unlike previous airbags, which relied on compressed air, uses a powerful fan to inflate the airbag nearly as fast as a compressed air canister.

Besides the travel benefits of not having to deal with canisters in a plane, the most crucial aspect of this technology is that you can inflate the airbag as many times as the rechargeable lithium battery will allow, unlike canisters which required filling out the tank after every use.

Previously, if you got trigger happy, and released the airbag after hearing a dreadful whoompf in the snowpack, this meant that your bag was useless until you made it back and refilled your canister. With BD’s JetForce, just take your backpack off, deflate the bag, fold it in, and you’re set to go again.

Shovel and probes: The workhorse of avalanche gear, they’re offered by dozens of companies, most are solid offerings, but something to keep in mind is this: make sure your shovel has a metal scoop, its easy and fast to assemble, and lets you move a lot of snow in little time. For probes, experts prefer them at least 200cm tall, and with measuring marks alongside, that way they’ll also be useful to measure snow depth.

Finding good mentors is important, Trevor Campbell showing our editor Mike Hardaker the way in Nelson, BC

Be a Good Partner

All your fancy avalanche gear will be as good as an anchor tied to your neck if you do get buried and there’s no one to dig you out. This is why it’s crucial to find a good partner(s) and mentor(s) before heading out. If you are lucky enough to find an avalanche professional as a BC-ski mentor, who can show you the ropes of proper safe travel, be sure to offer them plentiful beer as they’re worth their weight in carbon fiber racing randonee boots.

Just 1.5% of avalanche fatalities in the US in the last 15 years have involved avalanche professionals , which just goes to show you how crucial proper education and skills are when venturing out. Most of us are not lucky enough to have Lou Dawson as a ski partner, but being a good partner is bound to make sure you get the 5am call on a powder day from the right people. Being a good partner includes: having adequate gear, knowledge, and good communication skills on the mountain, understanding your limits, and most important a humble attitude towards the mountain and your group’s decision-making process.

Even if you checked out everything on this list before venturing out, there’s no guarantee that you wont be a liability among your group; it’s just part of human nature, or as it’s know in avalanche forecasting “The Human Factor”.

But what you can do is be conscious of your limits, and use this state of consciousness to reduce the risk you’re putting your self and your group in. Just by doing that, you can be a manageable liability, someone who follows, defers, shares opinions, as opposed to a loose cannon that has blood shot eyes and is zombie speeding to get the next powder turn, endangering everyone around them while they’re at it. Remember the most important aspect of venturing into the backcountry is coming back in one piece.

For more info checkout avalanche.org

Avalanche Avoidance

by Nick Sirianno
You can take every precaution to prevent an avalanche from occurring but the only true guarantee of survival is to turn around, take the safest route home, and live to ski another day.

You’re the judge, it isn’t the avalanche report, it isn’t snow pit conditions, it isn’t the expert powder addict who tells you everything will be fine, it is you! So if you want to live a long life in the mountains play is safe, be confident in your decisions, and know that turning around might just save you life.

Training Avalanche Avoidance

Avalanche Training is probably the most important for understanding snow conditions but regardless of an avalanche, you should also know CPR, how to stop wounds from bleeding, how to treat breaks, strains, and fractures, and how to prevent hypothermia.  These skills can be learned in Wilderness First Aid.

Avalanche Gear

The big three are beacon, shovel and probe. If you don’t know what these are then you need to take an avalanche-training course. Technology today brings incredibly light and strong equipment. Carrying a more than necessary amount of gear is now possible because of the lightness of everything. 

Here is a list of best avalanche probes.  The shovel is your best friend in the event of an avalanche.  Here is a link to how to use one.  Finally, the beacon.  There is a long list of amazing beacons out there but here is a list of our favorite avalanche beacons.

Once you have the above three items then you can start getting into more advanced gear.  A snow saw, slope meter, 10x magnifying lens, crystal aluminum card, and a calibratible thermometer.  All of these items are designed for experts but if your getting into snow science and want to become an expert then this kit from BCA will get you started.

PRACTICE

You could have all the gear in the world but without practice it don’t mean diddley. Training is great but you still need to practice what you’ve learned.  Strap your buddies beacon to a backpack and hide it in the snow.

Practice shoveling as hard as you can for as long as you can. This is not a time to practice laly-gagging around. If you find an old debris field, take a look at that the snow is like. It might be icier and harder than immediately post avalanche but debris fields aren’t usually nice fluffy snow, they are usually big heavy chunks—the hardest to shovel.

“What If Gear”

What if an emergency does occur? You need to be prepared. If you know the feeling of “Holy Sh*#, we’re out here,” then you know that in an event of an emergency you would want to be prepared.

–Basic First Aid Kit– make sure it contains aspirin.

–SAM Splint– for treating sprains, breaks, and fractures.

–Food –Clif bars, or anything that is light and high in calories

–Water– a good thermos will stop your water from freezing

–Space blanket– light and incredibly ward

–Layers– fleece, wool, synthetic blends, but NO COTTON

–Tarp– If you need to carry out an injured person, tarps make dragging and carrying much easier than trying to grip a victim’s jacket and pants. A 6×8 should be more than enough.

–Rope or Parachute cord– for building shelters, securing broken limbs, and being MacGyver.

-Pocket Knife, whistle, reflective mirror, matches

Trustworthy Partners

Know whom your going with and what their experience levels are. Trust them with your life.

In conclusion, remember that you are the judge of every situation in the backcountry. Be confident in your training and never fail to speak your opinion and understanding of the situation.  If you ever need to call for help, the number is 911!  If you can’t call, try texting; seriously it is sometimes better if you’re in a choppy service zone.  

Talk over your rescue plan in the event of an emergency, stay calm, and call for help immediately! Have an amazing season, and stay safe!

Last But Not Least

by Mike Hardaker
Backcountry! It’s all the rage these days, however anytime you leave the resort boundaries or head out into the wilderness on your own, a few simple steps will help to keep you alive. And actually there is really only one skill and couple tools you need…

Step 1

Take an Avalanche class, you really want to start here. Stop geeking out on new Airbags, beacons, and other gear that will only get you way over you head. Speaking of head this brings us to the most important tool you will ever need for skiing or riding in the backcountry, are you ready for it. It’s called your brain and we all have one. Now start using it..

My recommendation is to signup for a basic Avalanche Level I class through an AIRE provider. If you live in a mountain town, odds are there is a class near you this winter. Pay attention in the classroom and take notes!

AIARE Avalanche course with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News

Step 2

Learn how to read terrain and slope angles, its the easiest way to avoid putting yourself or your partners in avalanche terrain. There is a MAJOR difference between skiing and riding in the backcountry and going out into avalanche terrain. I spent 90% of my time in the backcountry these days and of that at most maybe 10% of my season has me exposed to avalanche terrain. Learn to enjoy ripping low angle chest deep blower pow turns, and live to ride another day… Do you really want to die in the mountains, there’s nothing glamorous about it, grow up!

Most Important Tool #2

Without fail every time I head into the backcountry I never leave home without a simple slope inclinometer. (yes it’s hard to pronounce). BCA has one in there Snow Study Kit that I reviewed back in 2013. However another tool which I started using and is worth every penny is the $12 PoleClinometer for Snowwander LLC. Whats rad about this system that was designed by backcountry skier Grayson King is all you have to do is place the slope reader sticker on your ski pole and the PoleClinometer will show you the slope angle you’re interested in riding within about 1-2º.

There you have it, it’s that simple. Don’t believe the industry hype surrounding airbags unless you dig false positives.. Just remember all these stats about survival come from people that made a clear mistake in reading the terrain they were riding. Now if you are working as a ski guide, patroller and find yourself routinely in terrain that can slide, then perhaps at that point consider the other tools. For the other 99.9% of us, stay safe with your brain and the ability to read terrain.

The post Avalanche Training How to Not be a Liability in the Backcountry appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Ricardo Moreno.

Mountain Weekly News ~

Winter weather is finally upon us! The snow has already begun to blanket the best mountains in the world, and riders have been ready. If you’re stoked on this season – and I know you are… check out these top 6 picks for the best women’s snowboard jackets.

Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Altitude Jacket. Toping the list and taking the #1 spot for best women’s snowboard jackets is **drum roll please** the Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Altitude. Made to handle the roughest backcountry conditions and the toughest female riders, this zip-up jacket delivers guide-worthy protection with legendary breathability. Additional features include a neck gasket collar and powder gasket cuffs so you’ll be sealed in tight – away from windy weather and frigid snow. Featuring an exclusive Gore-Seam® technology, the Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Altitude also keeps your body temperature adjusted so you never have to worry about overheating inside and soaking yourself with sweat. Additional features include, micro-adjustable hood and exterior-access media pocket.

Mammut Biwak Down Jacket. Nothing protects your sensitive skin from winter weather like this puffy jacket from Mammut. Made with an exclusive Pertex Endurance outer shell, the fabric is water resistant and highly compressible so you can stuff this all-purpose jacket in any sack. 880-fill goose down will keep you warm, and the three-point hood allows you to adjust, with or without a helmet. My favorite part about this jacket is the fibrefill body mapping inserts. It can really warm up inside down jackets, but the Mammut Biwak Down Jacket includes this unique underarm transfer to wick moisture away and keep things dry inside.

Patagonia Insulated Powder Bowl Jacket. Ok ladies… if you’re craving powder – this is the jacket for you. Made with a 2-layer Gore-Tex outer membrane to lock moisture out even in high winds, you’ll be snug and comfortable as the strategically placed vents give you breathability to sweat freely AND stay warm. Ventilated and completely environmentally friendly, this jacket features 100g Thermogreen insulation in just the right spots, where you need warmth the most. Additionally, this all-condition backcountry jacket was made for the deepest snow days plus wind chill and bitter ice blasts. It’s all good in the Patagonia Women’s Insulated Powder Bowl Jacket.

FlyLow Gear Bille Coat. Made for backcountry beauties, this jacket has a triple-layered shell that handles cold, wet conditions easily. Its high-functioning design includes a waterproof membrane, DWR coated mid-layers and underarm vents especially positioned for gnarly female riders. Additional features include a helmet-compatible hood, removable powder skirt, 7 stash pockets, and an ultra-tall hood so you can ski with your helmet on. Just incase you get a little too hyped-up out there, and find yourself smothered in POW, the removable powder skirt will keep your assets dry.

Arc’teryx Tiya Jacket. Nobody said you can’t look fly AF in active snowfall. Take the Arc’teryx Women’s Tiya Jacket along for the ride on the next trip you take into the backcountry. It’s there for you in every way a reliable jacket should be – with zippered vents for breathability, fully taped seams, helmet compatibility & a drop hood, a slim-looking silhouette, a laminated brim that stays out of sight, and Coreloft® body-mapped insulation for extra comfort and all-weather warmth. Adjustable hem and cuffs make it easy to swap out gloves & mittens, and you’ll never need to look for a place to stash anything with plenty of pockets,, specifically designed for goggles, passes and more!

Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket. Made to fit Janes of all trades, this down Patagonia jacket is ideal for every cold weather situation. Don’t let the #5 spot fool you, this is still one of the best women’s snowboard jackets of the season. Lightweight and windproof, it’s made with a 100% recycled polyester shell and 100 fill power Traceable Down. What’s traceable down? This jacket is filled with goose down from geese that are tracked from farm to apparel factory, to ensure the birds are not force-fed or live-plucked. All certified by NSF – an independent third party, you can feel good about your jacket while you stay protected from the elements. Ultra-comfortable, and ultra-versatile this jacket was made just for ladies who rip, with a classic zip-up style.

Get online and grab these 6 best women’s snowboarding jackets for the 2017 season – STAT! They’ve made our list, now add them to yours!

Another jacket that nearly made the list is the Women’s L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Down

6 Essential Womens Backcountry Gear Must Haves
by Stephanie Buelow
Do you have a female backcountry skier or snowboarder in your life? This winter get a girl what she really wants. We compiled this seasons must haves for any backcountry shredder. These are not just accessories; they are staples to those who want to explore this winter.

The The North Face – Women’s Sickline backcountry specific jacket is designed for all weather and steep terrain. Any female would love the freedom and protection this jacket provides. The Sickline has insulation throughout the body of the jacket with less insulation in the sleeves. This design adds to the two-way stretch for maximum freedom of movement. Ideal for hiking or skinning up a slope. This fully featured jacket is also made of HyVent, a waterproof, breathable fabric.

Patagonia’s Capilene 3 is made from moisture wicking polyester. Making them an ideal layering piece for the backcountry. Don’t let cotton affect your bid for the summit and layer smart for the weather.

Another great baselayer we have been raving about is from Polarmax, checkout the line of polarmax technical base layer options for skiing and snowboarding.

Quick changing lens systems have taken over today’s goggles. Show her you care by gifting the top of the line, Smith’s I/07s. These spherical lenses have a single pivot, quick release lens system. Switch lenses quickly to prepare for any type of light. We liked these soo much they made our list for the best snowboard googles of the year!

Both the Black Diamond – Carbon and Pure Carbon Ski poles are ideal for going the distance in winter conditions. The Carbon Compactor poles are great for snowboarders because of the weight and collapsible technology. While the Pure Carbon are more ski-focused poles, light and durable for going up and down the mountain.

The Ortovox Zoom + transmitter is a great gift to empower your favorite shredder because the first step for getting out in the backcountry is being prepared. The Zoom + combines design and function with the latest technology in transmitting. An LED display allows clear transitions between transmitting and searching. We dug this beacon so much it made the list of the Best 3 Antenna Avalanche Beacons.

With the Burton Approach glove you have 2-in-1 versatility with touch screen technology. Both weatherproof and breathable this is the glove designed for all seasons. The ergonomic fit brings functionality to the backcountry. This is one of the most versatile gloves on the market today.

The post Top 6 Best Women’s Snowboard Jackets for 2017 appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Brittany Artwohl.

Mountain Weekly News ~

DENVER, CO – Mountain Weekly News is proud to have awarded our second annual Editor’s Choice Awards on the floor of the SnowSports Industries America (SIA) trade show this year. This is some of the hottest 2018 snowboard gear coming to the market next fall.

The SIA show is an exciting event that brings together manufacturers, retailers and media to preview all the cool snowboard gear coming to the market for the 2017/2018 season.

The five award categories were Best Snowboard For Having Fun, Best New Exhibitor, Best Splitboards, Best Splitboard Boots, Best Splitboard Bindings and Best Outerwear Scroll down to find out who took home the prize for best of SIA snow 2017-2018. This is the 2018 snowboard gear I am standing behind. Odds are you will enjoy it too..

Best Splitboards

1. Rossignol Sushi

2. Arbor Coda

3. Weston Big Chief

Best Snowboard for Fun

1. Never Summer Insta Gator

Best Outwear

1. Patagonia Descensionist Jacket and Pants

Best Splitboard Binding

1. Union Expedition Binding

Best Splitboard Boots

1. Deeluxe XV

2. Rome SDS Libertine

The post 2017 SIA Editor’s Choice Awards appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

DENVER, CO – Are you looking to see what next years 2017 – 2018 snowboards look like? I spent a few days on the SIA Snow Show floor taking photos of *just about every single new snowboard I could find on display. Below you can checkout photos of some of the most progressive snowboard shapes coming to the market for next winter.

Snowboarding is growing up nicely; we seem to aging like a fine wine. There were however a lot of brands that decide not to exhibit this years annual tradeshow, instead they opted to start their own show?

This 2017-2018 snowboard / splitboard preview will focus solely on brands that are invested in the sport of snowboarding, and actually showed up to support SIA and everyone involved. Kudos to all the manufactures, these boards look sick!!

Aloha Snowboards 2018

Arbor Snowboards 2018

Burton Snowboards 2018

Capita Snowboards 2018

Dinosaurs Will Die Snowboards 2018

Endeavor Snowboards 2018

Flow Snowboards 2018

GNU Snowboards 2018

Jones Snowboards 2018

K2 Snowboards 2018

Lib Tech Snowboards 2018

Moss Snowstick Snowboards 2018

Never Summer Snowboards 2018

Niche Snowboards 2018

Nidecker Snowboards 2018

Powderjet Snowboards 2018

Prior Snowboards 2018

Ride Snowboards

Rome Snowboards 2018

Rossignol Snowboards 2018

Salomon Snowboards 2018

Smokin’ Snowboards 2018

Venture Snowboards 2018

Weston Snowboards 2018

Yes Snowboards 2018

snowboarding, here to stay!

The post 2018 Snowboards & Splitboards Preview appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

If you splitboard you can thank the guys above (left to right) Will Ritter of Spark R&D and Tyler Kloster of Karakoram for their solid innovations to the split world over the past few years. Spark R&D must be especially stoked this year to be celebrating the brands 10th anniversary!

2017/2018 will see a few new manufactures enter the splitboard binding world in the United States market along with some major updates from the current industry leaders.

Union Expedition Splitboard Binding

New for the 2017/2018 winter will see another major player enter the splitboard binding world, the Union Binding Company which is releasing the Expedition splitboard binding, this is what professional snowboarder Travis Rice had to say:

“Up until now, the split boarding experience has been hindered by bindings that are built for mountaineering, not snowboarding.”

I don’t fully agree with Travis, however the Union Expedition binding (shown above) does feel much more like a traditional offering from Union making it uniquely different to the other splitboard bindings on the market. The materials, weight and comfort will be tough to match for the other major splitboard binding manufactures in North America including Voile, Spark R&D, Karakoram and a newcomer in Fix Bindings whose release date is tbd.

The use of the pin system does seem to set Union a little behind in terms of current splitboard tech, although the ease of use and ability to get first timers into splitboard may just just outweigh it.

Along with the Expedition binding Union is offering splitboard crampons for 2017/2018, when combined with the new Capita Splitboard and skins, C3 is quickly looking to become a splitboard powerhouse. Which will surely have the current players stepping up their game even more to compete with one of the largest snowboarding binding manufactures in the world for their share of the splitboard binding market.

“I feel like this product is going to change the perception that people have about splitboarding. You don’t have to compromise performance for freedom while touring.” – Bryan Iguchi.

Voile Splitboard Bindings

Voile updated it’s Speed Rail and Light Rail Binding for the 2017/2018 winter complete with a heal lock down function, updated highback featuring 25 degrees of additional front to back movement and 12 different forward lean angles. And for everyone looking for more torsional support the highbacks feature cutouts compatible with Voile straps.

If not for Voile and their decades of splitboard innovations none of this would exist, so be sure to keep Voile on your radar especially considering they are now offering the Speed Rail pinless splitboard binding, crampons and insane highback flexibility. (shown below)

Spark R&D Splitboard Bindings

For the 2017/2018 season Spark R&D updated their Arc and Surge bindings with brand new light weight Pillow Line Straps that look and feel super comfortable. Along with the new straps Spark R&D updated their climbing wires with the addition of the Whammy Bar that should make it even easier to engage or disengage the riser on the way uphill.

Both the Arc Binding and Surge Binding from Spark R&D are also available in Women’s specific versions and colorways.

Also new for 2017/2018 is the Spark R&D Crossbar Clip that is designed to pull both parts of the splitboard in together. In the past the industry relied on either Voile or Karakoram, so it’s nice to see Spark entering this realm as well. The clips seem easy to use and have the ability to be adjusted as needed by turning a set screw. So you can say goodbye to big old gaps between your splitboard moving forward.

Karakoram

Last year Karakoram introduced the splitboard world to there new Flex Lock system, and it looks to be something we will see a lot more of in the future. Whats great about the Flex Lock is it gives you the ability to tighten down your Karakoram bindings against the upper part of your calf giving even more response to the binding while on the way up. With a solid connection between the highback and your ankle strap this innovative system from Karakoram will help to increase lateral support, something the splitboard world, especially soft booters are in dire need of.

Another new piece of tech Karakoram is bringing to the splitboard world comes in the form of new clips to hold your splitboard together. The brand new UltraClips will according to Karakoram:

Once joined the UltraClip fully constrains the seam of your splitboard to eliminate seam rattling, seam shearing, and seam rolling.

The new UltraClip is music to our ears as its can be super frustrating when your board starts to separate over time, even worse is when you can see light through each half of the board. Luckily it looks like those days are coming to an end thanks to new new connectors from both Karakoram and Spark R&D, most likely Voile will follow suit..

Fix

A new player is potentially emerging in the splitboard world for 2017/2018 in the form of Fix Bindings. We’re still waiting for more information on the system and release date. The Fix Binding Co splitboard binding I saw at the SIA trade show was light weight, simplistic and looked like a traditional snowboard binding similar to the Union Expedition. This binding looks to be pin free and will have a very unique interface.

More details to follow on this binding from the Fix Binding Co to follow..

European Brands

There are a ton of splitboard binding manufactures in Europe and even New Zealand, the issue becomes getting gear here to the states. For now we will leave the brands that are not available in North America off this list.

Hard Boot Bindings

If you’re looking for information on hard boot bindings for splitboarding you’re in the wrong place. Having grown up a surfer and spending all my free time in the winter chasing powder I enjoy the feeling of soft boots under foot. Surely the hard boots will make touring much more efficient however for me it’s not worth sacrificing any fun or freedom when going downhill.

The post The Future of Splitboard Bindings … appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

COLORADO, USA – I’ve lived the vast majority of my life in the Pacific Northwest. It’s been my privilege to ride each winter at places like Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood Meadows in Oregon, Crystal Mountain and Mt. Baker in Washington, and of course, Whistler in British Colombia. Never have I made my feelings a secret that the PNW is one of the greatest places in the world for skiing and snowboarding. But I do love riding new places.

A long weekend in January 2016 granted me my first exposure to snowboarding in Colorado. It only took a couple days to realize that I needed to spend a full winter here to ride as much as possible. The last few snow seasons in the PNW have been moderate to lacking in overall snowfall, and when the majority of people think of ideal riding conditions, it’s pretty common to conjure thoughts of CO. With fantasies of endless blower powder, picturesque blue sky, and expansive ranges displayed before me, I spoke with my wife to find that she too had similar visions. Fortunate enough to both have flexible working situations, my wife and I decided to make the move to Colorado early in January of this year to realize our dream of ripping the Rockies for the winter.

Holy smokes. We sure chose the wrong shred season to bail on the Pacific Northwest.

Our writer Cody once lived in Colorado, he now calls Mt. Baker home..

We opted for the Epic Local Colorado ski pass so we could have our choice of Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek, or Arapahoe Basin on pretty much any given day. They are all located within an hour or closer of each other, and all things considered, it’s probably one of the best bang for your buck season passes out there, especially considering the borderline robbery those resorts commit for a day pass.

So with pass in pocket and gear loaded up, we arrived in CO from the PNW for the winter in hopes of a truly epic season, but the snow gods dealt us a cruel twist of fate.

We haven’t sniffed much more than a rogue flake here since February and it’s looking like we only have maybe a week of slush riding left. Meanwhile, the PNW has been getting hammered by snowstorm after snowstorm for months and it hasn’t let up yet. And I’ve only been able to laugh at myself for my decision to abandon my sweet, sweet corner of the country.

The routine for the past couple months has been the same. I get on my computer to check current Summit County, CO snow conditions and the upcoming forecast. As I begin navigating, I find that I’ve got way more than just my fingers crossed for a trace of fresh snow or a hint of an upcoming system that might bestow a couple inches upon us. Meanwhile, it’s impossible not to notice all of the news stories and updates from friends regarding the truly massive amounts of snow the PNW has been getting on a weekly basis.

meanwhile in the PNW:

My buds back home are waist deep in the fluffy stuff, and I feel like I’m competing in the pond skim at the bottom of every run. They are all making sure their powder skirts are snapped in place while I struggle not to get bucked over my nose every time the warm snow gets grabby. Those lucky people in the Northwest are all tearing up the mountains with face shots, and I’ve been playing the classic late season game of avoid the rock/dirt/grass bare patches for the majority of March.

At the time of writing this, mountains in the PNW that I’d typically ride have snow depths of 150 to over 200 inches. And they aren’t done yet. Alternatively, the resorts I mentioned earlier on the Epic Local pass are struggling to hold on to upper mountain base depths of 45-60 inches. (Source: onthesnow.com)

All the CO locals said to expect a big dumping sometime in March that will extend the season and be a source of some truly quality powder days. It hasn’t happened yet and hope for such things has worn beyond thin.

Now, despite what all this may have sounded like, there is absolutely no way that I’m going to ever complain about getting to spend the winter riding in Colorado. It really has been an amazing experience. I’ve had a total blast exploring fresh mountains, riding with new friends, and participating in my number one favorite activity. Snowboarding is just fun and I’ll enjoy it no matter where I’m riding.

But the whole situation is not without its irony. I moved from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado in search of an epic snowboarding season only to miss out on one of the best winters my home has seen in decades. Old Man Winter is never short on unpleasant jokes.

Editors note: All kidding aside it sucks that Andrew’s introduction to the “Sunshine State” came during one of Colorado’s more dismal snow years. That being said when one of our writers is clearly not reading our own articles, it makes you go hmm? Well bud we told you where to find snow this winter in our La Nina article way back in November.

The post Why Moving to Colorado This Winter Was the Worst Decision I Could Have Made as a Snowboarder appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Andrew Tillery.

Mountain Weekly News ~

Are you wondering where to find the best spring snow for ski touring and splitboarding? If so head up to Togwotee Pass in Wyoming atop the Continental Divide where winter starts early and ends late.

As of today April 12th 2017 the Togwotee Pass Snotel Weather station at 9,580 Feet is showing 90″ of snow on the ground. With deep snow, a mostly stable snowpack and plenty of terrain to ride I decided to take my dog out to explore the areas around the Radio Tower Coulior.

We had spent the past few days touring Togwotee Pass and literally had the place to ourselves which is sort of surprising considering the snow quality, stability and weather was practically perfect. Skiers and snowboarders living in the Tetons are most likely already burnt out on snow, or perhaps skiing big lines in the park or maybe they’re off surfing which is fine by me. Aside from a few distant snowmobiles and handful of cars driving the pass there was not a single soul to be seen.

My original tour plan for the day had us starting at the top of the pass and touring out past the Radio Tower Couloir to explore the eastern buttress. However my eyes kept wandering up towards the lines directly in front of me (hence writing a tour plan) as I knew I would be tempted to ski these faces. However due to their aspect and with evidence of roller balls and a temperature forecast of around 32°F I figured the eastern faces would offer better and safer snow.

As I approached Radio Tower Couloir the snow started to feel a little different, a little colder and there weren’t any roller balls around. I thought hmm. Maybe I can tour up 1/4 of the way and make some turns on the lower face below treeline before continuing onto my original destination of the eastern side.

So we started heading up the face towards the Couloir which at first was a pretty mellow skin.

However once we reached treeline the terrain started getting steeper which offered two options. Either ski back down, or take off my splitboard, attach it to my backpack and boot up the remaining face of the couloir.

It’s always weird looking at terrain from the bottom vs the top. This was the view looking up which felt moderate:

And this was the view looking down which begins to become a bit more technical:

From here up the terrain once again started to steepen and I started looking for a safe places to transition as it would be tough to get my board back into ride mode in this particular part of the couloir. Just above me I could see a “flatter” spot and decided to keep going uphill.

As I neared the flat spot I looked up to my right and noticed I was directly in the line of fire of a considerable piece of ice cornice that had been hidden from my view until I rounded the bend in the couloir. At this point I decided to move my boot pack to the other side of the couloir which although was much steeper it offered a safer route up.

Once we got to the mini bench I realized we were almost to the top. Ok sigh of relief as that last section sort of scared me or more importantly woke me up to the fact I was skiing this line alone with my dog.

The snowpack was stable and telling me to push on as I had dug numerous hand pits along the way testing the snows stability while putting in the boot pack and using my ski poles laid out across the snow to help climb and more importantly test for the existence of a slab.

The final 50 feet or so must have taken me about a half hour to climb. The snow was waist deep plus and I was doing my best to get up without snowboard boot crampons or an ice axe both of which are tools I don’t currently own. Typically I don’t find myself in this sort of terrain.

As we clawed, literally up and over the top my dog and I cuddled together for a few seconds soaking wet, after being pounded by wind and snow on the final pitch.

It was brutally cold as the wind ripped through the summit notch around 10,600 feet. Normally I would have taken time to enjoy the view, eat some food but all I wanted to do was get back down.

I was actually testing a new splitboard for this years Mountain Weekly News Splitboard Test – the Olive Nunchuck. This board has won the award for best splitboard in the past. Be sure to stay tuned to see the video of how the board handled the Radio Tower Couloir. Needless to say it was a fast ride down..

Once back to the car I headed east toward the town of Dubious were I was staying at a place you will be hearing a lot about from me in the future. 16 miles from the pass is home to the tranquil Big Diamond Ranch.

For $299 a night you can call this place home in the winter.

Or for $199 you can stay in one of the luxurious (dog friendly) cabins.

Next time you’re planning on skiing or riding Togwotee Pass give Martin a call at 307 455 3120.

The post Splitboarding & Climbing Radio Tower Couloir with my Dog on Togwotee Pass appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

Hold on tight kidos the bangers are back and it looks like Quiksilver is picking up where Brain Farm left off. Quiksilver, Rubble / Helio Films, CMH Heli and Travis Rice have teamed up to create Depth Perception. Directed by Chip Taylor of Rubble and Chris Murphy of Helio & Company.

Taking place in the heart of snowboarding powder, deep in British Columbia a team of Quiksilver riders including Bryan Fox, Travis Rice, Austen Sweetin, & Robin Van Gyn set off in search of untracked pow and fat pillow lines.

Capping off a historical snow season that began with the release of his highly-anticipated Fourth Phase film, Travis Rice recently chased down some deep late-season powder with CMH Heli at Galena Lodge in beautiful British Columbia. While shooting for a new film, Travis took the opportunity to equip his Karma Grip Extension Cable to capture a new line he’s coined, “Hydro Dojo.”

Wondering how Travis kept the camera so smooth for these clips? The crew has been using the Karma Grip from GoPro. This unique perspective really show’s how Travis picks his lines down the mountain. The combination of smooth GoPro video capture and Travis’ fluid style makes for an incredible moment high in the Canadian Mountains, $299.99 Karma Grip

The post Depth Perception, a New Snowboard Film from Quiksilver and Travis Rice appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

In about 50 years, the snowboard has gone from a hacksawed piece of wood to one of the most heavily-engineered pieces of gear on the planet. But how did it happen?

PART 1: THE BIRTH OF THE SNOWBOARD
Surfing. And some skateboarding. That was what first drove men to take pieces of wood and strap them to their feet, with a cord in the nose to hold on. The snurfer, in 1964.

Then came Winterstick’s wooden swallowtail in the ’70s. The board floated better thanks to the swallow, it was longer, borrowing from surf over skate. But basically, for the first time a board let you speed downhill sideways with some vague semblance of control.

In the 80s, “skiboarding” became an actual thing. Many of the early ones were made of plastic, fiber glass, laminated wood. They had metal fins. They were attached to your feet by a band of heavy-duty bungee cord you stuck your toes under. It was also when Tom Sims and Jake Burton Carpenter fought for the title of who really invented snowboarding and in the process actually created snowboarding, pitting their metal-edged, turned-up-nose mass-produced boards in an ultimate battle for bragging rights.

Arguably the most influential event in snowboard history was the first-ever contest, hosted by Ski Cooper in 1981 as depicted in the rarely seen vid “The Holy Grail” by FOB films http://firstonboard.com. The footage shows snowboarding as borderline anarchy in motion, with announcers still calling them “skiboards” and competitor Tom Sims showing off the fins and V-channel on the tail of his board as Jake Burton Carpenter shows off his wide-nosed Burton stick and the big air is little more than a sloppy 3-foot jump into rough chunder (which didn’t matter because, hell, nobody stuck anything).

But this was the first gathering of the tribe, their first opportunity to compete with and learn from each other. To begin to try and cipher where this crazy thing was going. Still, back then it was mostly about onground tight S-turns and spins on skinny planks without anything resembling a tail.

From that the pioneers envisioned wider boards, with wood cores and technical base materials. Individual rubber footstraps were the first great innovation, an actual loops for each individual foot. Burton and Sims went to battle over who’d cash in, an East-Vs-West that could make Tupac and Biggie jealous. In the mid-80s, Burton added plastic highbacks for extra heelside responsiveness. Then toestraps you could ratchet and close. And once binders locked the feet to the board taking rider-to-board connection to the next level, boards changed accordingly. And Burton rode that to the top.

Ski construction came in — P-Tex, layered cores but boarders took it to the next level. Theirs was a world without rules except follow your internal inspiration and never stop pushing. While skiers were content riding one direction and occasionally popping 360s, snowboarders were landing switch, spinning 720s, launching backflips over roads, taking street skate elements to the mountains and going bigger than you could dream of ever going on a skateboard. Tails turned up, sidewalls went in and out to follow the natural shape of a deep, deeply satisfying carve. Skis were stuck in centuries of convention; snowboards had no such loyalties or preconceptions.

Boardmakers began to experiment with the concept of “camber,” adapting skateboarding’s concave decks to boards that did the work of skateboard trucks — that is, in a skateboard the trucks bend and flex into turns; in snowboards, the boards did that and so the board needed to flex. Pretty soon we had the modern snowboard: Fat nose and tail and skinny waist, parabolically curved edges, a profile that hit the ground only under the bindings and rose everywhere else.

Well it was ALMOST the modern snowboard. Because really, this was just the BEGINNING of the evolution.

PART 2: COUNTER-CULTURE TAKES OVER

“We liked it more when you hated us.”

So goes the bumper sticker every bitter old boarder, myself included, thinks of when our friend’s mom starts trying to talk to us about “The Flying Tomato.” After years of having to hike to handbuilt kickers in the backcountry and occasionally poaching resorts, of middle fingers to square skiers in Bogner one-pieces and drug-and-whiskey-fueled rebel snow flicks, snowboarding was emerging as the sport of mainstream youth. The sport of the future.

Picture it: bright neon and bleached hair graces the covers of wintersport mags and ski specials. This raw display of attitude carried over from the growing phase of the ’80s to the early ’90s, when ski companies began manufacturing snowboards to stay relevant. As money poured into the sport from kids eager to rebel from their parents and skiers tired of the staid two-plank biz, engineers were given more resources to play with shapes and materials. Snowboards got longer and fatter and riders were launching higher, all set to a heavy punk soundtrack.

Riders were welcomed on nearly all resorts, which now began building “professional” jumps and halfpipes in areas called “Snowboard Parks,” even putting in logs to mimic the rail surfaces skaters slid. At the same time, other riders were taking snowboards places where only skis, with centuries of Alp mountaineering history, dared to go. Europe. AK. BC. Suddenly snowboard designs were more than just for beginners, intermediates and experts. There were boards with heavy camber for carving up the groomers; others with flat bottoms and softer edges and symmetric outlines for skate-style tricks. Others with floatier noses and rock-hard tails for backcountry pow. Basically, the modern snowboard was born.

Companies began experimenting with core materials and strategic construction, with materials changing from nose to under the bindings to between the bindings to the tail. Playing with board outlines was the next big step, before reverse camber, concave tips with a slightly rounded up base, was introduced (no doubt in part because Standard Films showed us how pow riding is the closest you can get to surfing a couple-thousand-foot wave, though most people didn’t have the strength and wherewithal to ride a camber board in such pow).

“I wish skiing could go back to the way it was before snowboarding,” Glen Plake told a skishop friend of mine. And it was true; to mimic snowboards, skis were adopting sidecut and upturned tails and skiers were sliding rails and landing switch in between off-axis spins and wearing spiked belts and learning to session halfpipes. Snowboards had now influenced skis and it was tough to discern where to next. In 2002 Lib-Tech unveiled the razor-sharp Magne-Traction edge, providing superior edge hold and board-snow connectivity.

Still, the ski industry had one last big role to play in snowboarding: The splitboard. Invented by an ambitious backcountry snowboarder and mass-marketed by Voile, a ski company looking for a way to rebuild brand and expand profits (yes, it was invented in the mid-90s but let’s be honest, how many of you heard about splits before, like, 2000-something?), it solved the dilemma of boarders having to boot through knee-high pow (or snowshoe) while their skier friends floated atop. But it’s the growing popularity of splits, combined with the fruits of a couple generations of heavy experimentation, that has brought us to the glorious modern era.

PART 3: THE AGE OF SPECIALIZATION – HOW SNOWBOARDS HAVE CHANGED

We’re living in the golden age of shred, the inevitable conclusion to 4 decades of inspiration and frustration and innovation. Going from a thin skiboard with channel grooves, flat tail and fins, with plastic or laminated wood bases, here’s just a brief list of the different engineering feats that allow you to snowboard however you want in whatever conditions:

Cambered boards reach in and grip all along the edge into and out of your turns.

Reverse cambered boards (rocker) give more float and more forgiveness but sacrifice precision.

Variable camber, employing camber in the middle of the board and reverse camber for the nose and tail (compromise between precision in turns and forgiveability in tricks) or reverse camber for the middle and camber under the bindings and then reverse camber for the tips (combining pow float with toe-driven precision); various other alternatives to adapt to the explosion of backcountry freestyle and/or create the best quiver-killer resort/bc boards.

Stiff tails for popping up and absorbing impact on drops on more directional boards or for just powering forward on everything from bulletproof to chunder to fluffy while while soft noses save you from the dreaded scorpion.

Bat (or swallow) tails let the board sink back, popping up the nose so you can lean back and let gravity take you on a blessed surf through the snorkel-deep. Bataleon Surfer $1,199.95

Twinshapes allow for switch riding and landings, and have more flex for forgiveness on tricks and spins. Jones Mountain Twin $499

Magne-Traction edges give more traction especially on hardpack while standard edges give more versatility and forgiveability and rounded edges allow for that cab 450 to boardslide to 270 off a 15-step metal handrail. Lib Tech Skate Banana $499

Directional boards mimic the old days when speed and power in your standard stance was king; twins go fantastic in every direction, making for a great playful day but you sacrifice speed and drive, which is kinda pointless if the last time you spun a back 180 was half a decade ago. Burton Custom X Flying V $749.95

To round it out, asym is the newest innovation. Instead of having to adapt to riding heelside vs. toeside, the board adapts for you. Once you learn to unlearn all you’ve done to compensate for the awkwardness of riding on your heel (what surfers call backside), you might just start finding heelside carves as fullfilling as toeside. At the least, you greatly diminish the drag of heelsides. And some boards are so into the asym thing that they’ve embraced directional asym: there’s a board for goofy-footed riders and a board for regulars. Yes Greats Uninc $549

Core materials of seemingly every wood type, giving you options of variable stiffness, flex, pop and response. In some boards, different woods go in different parts, for example to dampen under the bindings with stiffer pop on the tips and softer flex in the center.

Then you add in splitboards: camber allows you to ride downhill like any other great board but lack some of the grip needed for long skins; reverse camber is great for the skin up and the ride down in pow but you lose edge hold on icey descents. Combo cambers are better. Fat noses excel in pow but can be problematic in narrow skin tracks. Etc… Salomon Split $799.95

Splitboards are also leading the way in topsheet engineering too. The snow that sticks on top of your board while skinning up adds some serious extra weight and so topsheets that shed snow are consuming the minds of split builders. The topsheet: not just for pretty graphics anymore.

What does this add up to? The very real idea that you can customize your riding to exactly what you personally are looking to do on whatever hill you choose to ride.

PAINTBRUSHES FOR THE SNOW ARTIST

A great artist knows the value of having an arsenal of paintbrushes at their disposal. Thin and thick, fine bristles and large bristles and even palate knives (what up, Bob Ross) all give the skilled artist a different look. It’s taken 50 years but snowboards now allow you to get that board that fits your style; or even better, allows you to get a couple boards to take out depending on what your mood is and what the snowpack’s like on any given day. Boards have changed from flat wood planks to highly-specialized mountain machines, from clumsy pointers to a shredtool that takes you wherever you want to go, both physically and metaphysically.

No longer can we even point to 1 “best” snowboard, much less does any serious rider consign him or herself to just one board; you gotta do your research, and pick up at least a couple-board quiver to do the damn thing right. It’s a beautiful universe in which we live, one in which you can choose from any of a seemingly-endless assortment of tools to express yourself on the blank white snowy canvas in a way only you can.

From humble beginnings, the snowboard has evolved into one of the most individualized bits of sport gear for having fun and expressing yourself. You’re doing your snow stoke a disservice if you don’t spend some time figuring it out and then building the quiver that makes your sick little heart squeal with delight.

The post From Skiboard to Snowboard: The Evolution of Snowboarding appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Ryan Ariano.

Mountain Weekly News ~

Ah, splitboard skins.  You either Love Em or hate em.  There really is no in-between.  Luckily we took the guess work out of finding a solid pair of splitboard skins for your next tour.  One thing to keep in mind is for the most part splitboard skins are not coming cut from the factory to exactly match each board.  This creates areas where snow can and will get in and under the skin.

Everyone has a good splitboard skin story, that’s for sure.  Below are the skin we recommend for a fun, safe outing in the backountry. Oh and PS some of these skins are hard to find without contacting the manufactures directly as they are European brands.

Best Splitboard Skins

Kohla Mix-Mohair Skins

Mohair is easier to glide but you sacrifice traction; synthetic fibers optimize traction but, as you can probably deduce from this little rundown, it’s tougher to glide. With a mohair/synthetic mix, you get the best of both worlds and across the most variable conditions. And depending on the depth and mix of the fibers, the mix can actually become a stronger beast than either individually. Kohla’s mix and length delivers just this and in spades.

They also use less material and less adhesive. This means your skins are easier to separate at those early morning trailheads. It also means they can roll up to smaller than a beer can and you can shove them into even the most-overfull backpacks because, hell, Backcountry 101 means you need to be prepared for every occasion and as you learn more about the what ifs, you realize you need more on your back.

Kohla Splitboard Skins Review

Colltex Whizzz Skin

What is it that makes the Wizzz skins from Colltex differ from other skins on the market? The Whizzz is made of 65% mohair + 35% polyamide. Mohair is the tried and true material for skins that offers great grip and glide all in one. What the Wizzz does is combine mohair with an acrylic adhesive glue-less layer that makes these skins super easy to pull apart and store without the need for a skin saver net.

Colltex Wizzz Skin Review

High Trail Evotec Splitboard Skins

I will start with what I really like about these skins. First off they are glueless making them incredibly easy to pull on and off your splitboard, and even easier to pull apart when the skins are stuck together, no more mesh needed.

One the way up it will be hard to find another pair of skins with this much traction. The Evotec skins use a silicone-based adhesion, to be honest not sure what that means, but it’s not glue and its working much better then any of the other 4 pairs of skins I am currently testing. That much I can tell you.

High Trail Evotec Review

Past Winners: by Ben Osborne

Nothing is more frustrating than spending the first hour of your day messing with your skins trying to get them to work. Or the last half hour, or any time in between that.

It’s important to have a pair of skins that is durable and fits the type of skiing you are doing. Here’s a few quality companies you can rely on year in and year out that make some of the best splitboard skins on the market and why :

As of now, there are skins made of three different types of material on the market—Nylon, Mohair, and Mixed (Nylon & Mohair). Essentially Nylon gives the user more uphill grip, and is more durable, while Mohair generally glides better, is a bit lighter (can pack into your pocket easier as well), but may be more susceptible to breaking down due to wear and tear.

Jones Snowboards Pomoca Splitboard Skins

Many people might see the name Jones and rush out to buy their newest product. When it comes to boards, they are one of the top producers, so clearly the team is going to make a solid pair of skins, especially when teamed up with the likes of Pomoca. Made of 100% mohair, Jones Skins will be real sticky on steep tracks but will sacrifice some on the glide.

Like most Jones products, theses skins are on the high end for pricing ($175.00), and well worth the cost.

G3 Splitboard Skins

All of G3’s skins come with some level of a mix of nylon on mohair, with different models containing different levels of each. The nice thing about G3 skins is the amount of choices they offer, with different levels of traction, glide, and options for both skiiers and boarders! Beautiful. Visit their site to decide if you’re a high traction kinda guy/gal, or if you need to use their Momix model for a bit more glide. G3 skins typically have a bit more glide than the average skin, so beware when purchasing them if you are especially opposed to a little extra glide—it can be quite inconvenient at times, or extremely convenient in the right situation.

In addition to many options for types of skin, G3 has a great tail/nose clip system, which works quite well. Quality choice for skins for slightly cheaper ($188) than brands like Black Diamond, but beware of the GLIDE—unless you need it.

Colltex Splitboard Skins

Never heard of Colltex before? Me neither. That’s probably because these babies are the Lamborghini of splitboarding skins, and lets be honest neither you or me will ever be able to afford a Lamborghini. Colltex offers high quality skins for a high price, but they are well worth it. With models from Extreme (best grip, excellent glide) to the Race (exponential glide), you have your pick of the nicest skins on the market today.

Once again unavailable to splitboarders, but maybe one day they will smarten up. This setup is quality, durable, but potentially hard to find due to the fact they are based out of Switzerland. If you want the best, this is the place to go.

Once upon a time, there were little options for splitboarders looking for climbing skins. Some went with Voile, one of the first companies to throw their lots in with the dark side, while others tampered with ski skins to create a less-than perfect setup. Many companies have followed in the path of Voile and the market has been flooded with options for the growing number of backcountry snowboarders. How can one know which is the best option?

Colltex Mix Splitboard Skin Review
Colltex Extreme Splitboard Skin Review

Spark R&D Splitboard Skins

Spark R&D is the company synonymous with the sport and it is exciting to see them branch out from bindings with their own set of skins. As always, they find ways to make the sport more enjoyable and user-friendly. Tail clips that adjust without tools and G3 high friction material make these seriously grippy skins solid in all sorts of conditions.

Spark sold out of these skins blindingly quickly ($190.00), so that either means their name holds incredible value in the splitboard world or these skins are insanely well built. Either way, I don’t think you can go wrong.

Voile Splitboard Skins

The classic. Voile skins have proven to fit almost all brands of splitboard and hold up to massive amounts of abuse. Voile makes them extra-wide, so that users can tailor them to their individual boards. In the grand scheme of things, they don’t do anything spectacularly well, but they are less expensive and may last longer than the other choices. Their only drawback may be the lack of new technology that is advancing the performance of other brands of skins.

These are quality skins for a fair price ($149), if you’re just getting into splitting I would highly recommend them.

Black Diamond Skins

I want to start off by saying yes, I am insulted by Black Diamond neglecting splitboarders all over the world by only making skins for those other people we share the mountain with, but you can’t deny the product they put out each year. With both Nylon and Mohair skins for a slightly above market-average price, these things work well and seem to last forever.

A plus of the Black Diamond skin setup is their availability all over the US and Canada, meaning you can essentially find extra parts at any outdoor retailer and fix up your set up if need be. I was even able to jerry-rig my skin set up on my splitboard to make a tailclip with all their extra accessories—Thanks, BD. Now please make a set of black diamond splitboard skins, they will sell well!!

Black Diamond climbing skins are available at REI ($164.95)

Gecko Splitboard Skins

I want the Gecko skins to be great. The idea of having skins that only stick to hard surfaces, and are easy to clean and pull apart sounds awesome. However, the reviews coming in talk about adhesive left on planks and a host of problems when they get too cold.

One day, we may all be using these types of skins but until they improve, I suggest sticking to traditional glue-based skins.

What you do NOT want in a pair of climbing skins…

The post Splitboard Skins Buyers Guide : Top 10 Skins for Splitboarding appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.

Mountain Weekly News ~

“Snurfing is skiing, skateboarding and surfing all rolled into one outrageous wintertime sport! Turn a snow covered slope into a snowtime party place. … Available in two models: The Standard and the Super Racing model.”

Snowboarding has come a long way from the faddish kid toy a couple crazies in Michigan called surfing on the snow (see our article “Evolution of Snowboarding”). The options for what you ride are near-endless, and if you’re just starting it’s like you’re buying a car full of technical meat peppered with bro-bra linguistics. I wouldn’t blame you for choosing a board based on how it looks, though I would, actually, because not knowing what you’re riding is almost guaranteed to ruin your winter, snowboarding experience, life, marriage, and role as a contributing member of society, though possibly not in that order.

Even if you’ve been riding for a while, unless you’ve wasted your time to live like us dirtbags you probably have some difficulty dissecting whether you want a pow directional or a variable camber twintip or, shoot, whether you want to make the move into splits.

Lucky for you, we’ve used our massive brains and several wasted lifetimes of experience as riders, geartesters and shop lackeys to bring you this little guide on how to pick a board.

CHAPTER 1: SNOWBOARD SIZING

This is the most basic starting point: how big of a board do you want?

There’s a super simple answer: measure from the ground to your chin. Then measure from the ground to your nose. You want your board to be between those two.

There are some variations. To start off with, if you’re a beginner or have the build of a tweaked-out scarecrow, you’ll want something smaller. Same thing if all you want to do is learn how to ride park. Smaller boards are more responsive and easier to fling around the hill.

If you’re looking for a cruiser — i.e. something that dampens chatter and holds speed bombing groomers or floating through pow — go bigger. If you’re a meathead with legs like tree trunks who enjoys laying in a deep edge at high speed, bigger is definitely better. For example, my resort boardsare 159 to 161 while my split/big mountain sweetspot is between 163 and 165.

They also have all these fish shapes, freakishly short floaters with big ol’ fat noses but unless you’re in the market for a pow board or got a nice little cabin in Hokkaido or Wolf Creek, you’ll probably only get a handful of (glorious) days in even the longest of seasons.

CHAPTER 2: SNOWBOARD SHAPES

Yeah, this is where it gets fun. The time when every board looks like a big hourglass is over. There are engineers who dedicate their whole lives to understanding the principles of angle and curve so let’s just stick with the broad strokes.

Burton TWC Pro Snowboard (Shaun White Pro Model)
Will you be riding switch? Is your goal to be the next Shaun White? Twintip is for you, and without too aggressive of a sidecut. Though an alternative is a nice little asym, like Japanese wunderkind Yuki Kadono rides [Ride Helix], to give you more power on your backside turns and kick your switch game up 5 or 6 notches.

Never Summer Big Gun
Do you think hardpack turns are for suckers? Will you gladly spend a day lapping the same run if it’s covered in the deep? Or booting for your turns? If your answer to either or all of those is yes, you want a fat, longer nose Powder shape (to float up, preventing scorps on deep days and absorbing chatter on the hardpack) with a shorter, less pronounced tail (usually stiffer).

Lib Technologies T.Rice Pro Blunt-Tip
Do you like riding All Mountain, and shredding a little bit of everything? A park lap every now and then but mostly you’re riding one direction, love groomers AND pow AND steeps AND sidehits? Then you’ll be going back to the old tried and true. Nose binding is set back but not overly so. There’s a side cut but it’s not excessive and the nose and tail are different but not noticeably to the naked eye.

CHAPTER 3: BUILD

This is where it gets confusing. Carbon laminate stringers and camber underfoot with reverse camber in the middle and rocker to the nose and tail; bamboo or ash or poplar, dampening wood underfoot and stiff tails and what?

Even more, a few years ago Lib-Tech introduced Magne-Traction and snowsports haven’t been the same. It’s kinda like a serrated edge that digs into ice so much better than your traditional edge. So it can be tricky if you’re not ready for hyper-responsive edges or if you’re lazy on your toes but if you’re gonna be ripping down East Coast ice, there’s nothing better.

For the rest of the build, here’s a quick rundown:

Part 1: Stiffness vs. softness

Super stiff, shorter tail is great for pow and big drops as it absorbs everything.

Stiff longer tail can be great for popping — think olleying in park or pipe. Usually, this will come with a comparably stiff nose for switch riding and olleying.

Soft nose, usually coming with a stiffer tail, is great for float and chatter absorption but nearly impossible to ride switch.

A softer nose AND tail combo lack power and pop but are really forgiving if, say, you overrotate your spin or don’t land your rail perfectly. Or haven’t yet mastered the art of the turn.

Part 2: Camber

Camber is an arch. The principle behind camber is that it matches the natural line of a turn so when you trench it, the whole edge will be making contact with the snow. For the longest time, it was really the only option for boards.

A camber board gives you better control but is also less forgiving.

Reverse camber, also known as rocker, is just as it sounds — instead of an arch it’s like a bowl. You sacrifice control, especially on high-speed hardpack rips, but you gain float and it’s more forgiving.

Variable camber mixes these. How can that benefit you?

For example, there are boards with reverse camber between the bindings, camber underfoot, and then rocker for the nose and tail. The reverse camber between the feet means it’ll float better in pow and be more forgiving in turns; the camber underfoot gives you more control than standard reverse camber because your feet will basically get that parabolic lock when going to toe or heel; and then the rocker on tip and tail keeps the nose and tail up, making them more forgiving while still providing super level bases. Combining cambers is where it starts getting tricky so I’ll just table it there.

Part 3: Materials

I had to mention materials but no, we’re not going to do an in-depth rundown of the different materials used to construct boards. Do you want to read an essay comparing the springiness of poplar cores vs. the stiffness of bamboo? How about carbon cores vs. carbon stringers?

Or carbon honeycomb vs. aluminum honeycomb? And there’s kevlar in some boards, and some boards are layers of a few types of wood while others are carved out of one piece of wood by some legendary samurai shaper using techniques passed down from Hatori Hanzo and since I’m not an engineer specializing in the properties of various types of woods and alloys I’ll probably get some scientific term wrong anyway, dammit.

What matters is the general guidelines:

-Get an extruded base if you’re just beginning and don’t want to worry about waxing or dinging your base (or riding all park); sintered once you’re ready for a faster and stronger base.

-Stay away from full cap construction (do they even do that anymore?) again, unless you want just a super low-maintenance board you’ll take out, like, 5 days a year for groomer cruising or plan on trashing on handrails.

-When you read tech specs of the board they explain why they used certain types of materials and how it affects the board so instead of focusing on what materials, look for words like “stiff,” “responsive,” “pop,” “forgiving,” “lighter” and so on, matching that to your riding style.

Read reviews to get real info and not what the brands just tell you. For example, that “springy” board might actually require legs of steel and perfect technique to olley, though if you’ve got that it’ll launch like 6 feet in the air.

CHAPTER 4: TO SPLIT OR NOT TO SPLIT,

that’s the age-old question. Splitboarding is the “Stranger Things” of snowboarding, an exciting reboot of something from the 80s sent to brighten the modern world. If you’re like us and you spend most of your time exploring outside the lines, this is a no-brainer: you need a split to ride any rowdy BC objectives unless you got that heli on dial. It’s also where the real innovation is happening. But here are a couple more reasons an average rider needs a splitboard:

1. Slackcountry isn’t always so slack. For example, you go far right out the gates in Steamboat, you’ll eventually end up booting back a long traverse. In deep snow that could be enough to ruin your day; but with a split you cruise back as easily as your skier friends.

2. Marital harmony. Okay, so you have trouble convincing the significant other to go on a snowboard trip because it’s just not fun: He/she sucks and you can’t keep lapping the green on your back edge for the next 6 hours. Cross-country is a great option for the non-alpine explorer. Pack your split and you have a great shredtool for the downhill but enjoy cross country adventures with the old ball and chain without putting on those weak skinny skis.

3. Dawn patrol. Wanna ensure you’re the first person in the corduroy? A wide swath of resorts allow you to skin uphill and it’s an awesome way to sweat out that hangover; not to mention there’s nothing like sunrise from atop a snowy peak before sampling the untracked.

4. You want to ride Alta. Breaking the law. Trespassing. Snowboarding isn’t allowed yet, but they’re technically skis so… It’s one of the few places where they still hate us, God Bless, and what fun is snowboarding if you don’t occasionally get to shake up the squares?

Splitboard Buyers Guide : The Best Splitboards from Our 2018 Splitboard Test

5. You never know. Quality backcountry boards cost a chunk no matter how you shake it. Pay a couple hundred more for a split; unless you’re spinning double-corks, you’ll notice no difference between a split and a big mountain board. And if that dream chance comes up to get a guided trip with a local, you’re ready.

6. It keeps you young. No really. Lapping the resort all day leaves old dudes — these days that means 30s or later — with sore knees, swollen ankles. Injuries abound. When you split, you spend most of the day going uphill. While it cuts down the amount of vert you get, it ensures the turns you get will be the kinds your rheumy eyes flash to on your death bed, and it also saves your joints while getting you more jacked than a carton of Ripped Fuel.

EPILOGUE: CHEAT SHEET

So now you’re more confused? Fine, here’s us playing god and telling you what to buy:

Resort Rat: All-mountain board, direction but not overly, standard sidecut – measure to exactly halfway between your chin and your nose and buy it that size.

Park Rat: Twin-tip, little to no sidecut, if this is gonna be a rail board you should expect to go through at least 1 in a reasonably active season. Measure to the bottom of your chin, no bigger.

Slackcountry Rider: Stiff but light, longer nose directional, measure to between your mouth and your nose

Pow Crusher: Reverse camber, FAT soft nose with stiff tail (batwing and swallow tails especially fun), either super long or, if a fish shape, super short

Split: Apply one of the two directly above and buy it with a dramatic cut right down the gullet. Split bindings (and often skins) not included.

The post How to Pick a Snowboard appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Ryan Ariano.

Mountain Weekly News ~

With all the progression in snowboarding there are tons of new models, styles and types made for different kinds of riders. So first, you need to know what kind of rider you are so you can get through all the choices without wasting your time. Think of it this way, you don’t want to purchase a board built for tricks you can’t do, that doesn’t support your needs.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine what you need:

1. Am I a beginner, intermediate, or advanced Snowboarder?

Beginner: Newbie, you may have had a lesson before or need to start with one. Probably hit the mountain 0-3 times.

Intermediate: You may be able to catch a little air, can handle turning in both directions. You probably hit the mountain 3-5 times a year.

Advanced: You can ride. And you probably already hit the park and are venturing into the backcountry.

2. Choosing Your First Snowboard.

The more you know before you head to your local shop, the better the chance that you will find the perfect snowboard.

So read as much as you can and research all of your options. A great place to do this is right here on MTN Weekly where we have a number of different snowboard reviews available online.

A few points to keep in mind include:

Width of the board: This is related to the size of your foot. So, you need a board that keeps your toes out of the snow while turning. Size 10.5 or larger and your going to end up on a wide board most likely. Narrow boards are generally better boards (even for beginners). Find the narrowest one that you can for your boot size.

Body weight: Heavier riders need a board with stiffer flex. Lighter riders can ride a board with softer flex.

Length:  With your board standing on end, it should come up somewhere between your chest and forehead. Much of this depends on your riding style. 

3. What board should I buy?

The combination of your snowboard, boots, and bindings is commonly referred to as your setup.

If you are brand new to snowboarding, it is important that you try out a couple of different snowboards before you buy them. One way to do this is through renting from your local ski area. Rental boards are perfect for beginning snowboarders to get a feel for the slopes on.

Before investing in your new setup, it is also important to take your budget into account. Of course, you want a quality snowboard, but you might not want to dish out the big bucks right off the bat. At the same time, too cheap of a board will most likely make the snowboarding experience far less enjoyable than it should be.

4. Where to Buy a Beginner Snowboard.

Once you narrow down the selection based on function, you can finalize your choice based on the options available. There should be plenty of choices, so stay within your price range and pick a board that expresses your style, a brand you like and a design that motivates you to rip!

Snowboards for Sale at Backcountry.com

Snowboards for Sale at REI.com

Snowboards for Sale at Evo.com

Learning how to ride a snowboard is made so much easier when you have the right snowboarding setup. This means that you need to have the right equipment – and also have it set up properly.

5. Ask Yourself What kind of rider am I?

All mountain/freestyle: You use the whole mountain, like to carve and catch air.

Technical: You include tricks in your riding, spins, jumps, grabs, and tear up rails.

Carve/alpine style: You have a need for speed and take up everything the mountain can offer.

The post How To Buy Your First Snowboard appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Brittany Artwohl.

Mountain Weekly News ~

The third component of a snowboarding setup, bindings are nevertheless of utmost importance. Learn How To Buy Snowboard Bindings below:

Buy your boots before you start to look at your binding options. You want as snug a fit as possible and this is hard to come by if you’re trying to match bindings to boots rather than the other way around. We tested a bunch of snowboard bindings this year. Click to see our snowboard binding reviews.

Another piece of advice: simple bindings are almost always the best bindings. Yours shouldn’t have any special features if they are not concerned with improving fit.

When you head to the shop, ask an experienced sales person to help you evaluate your Riding Style, Binding Type, Components, Fit and Binding Compatibility with your board. They can help you find just the right binding for what you need on the mountain based on these things.

Snowboard Bindings based on Riding Style

Bindings fall into three categories, and it’s important to match the flex to your ridding style. You’ll need to determine the amount of flex you want according to the flex of your boots. You don’t want to have stiff binding and a soft boot, or vice versa. So, bring in your boots if you want. You’ll get a tailored fit for your ride, if you match up the flex of your boots and bindings. Flex ratings range from 1-10, 1 being the softest, and 10 the stiffest. (1-2, is soft, 3-5 is medium, 6-8 is stiff, and 9-10 is very stiff) and ratings vary.

Your riding style may be park, freestyle, all-mountain, or free ride and each style has different flex needs. Riders who spend most of their time in the park throwing down tricks, may want bindings with a softer flex so there’s softer landings, better tweak, and room for error. All-mountain riders typically ride powder, groomed runs and may hit the park, so they’ll usually want a medium flex. Freeride boarders have a need for speed so a stiffer flex offers better response for going big.

Types of Bindings

There’s really just two categories here: Strap-In bindings, and Rear-Entry bindings.

Strap-In Bindings have two straps. One that goes across the toe, and one across the ankle. They are supportive, and adjust easily. Suitable for all riding styles, they simply take a little bit of time to adjust on the mountain. These work great, but you might find that gloves get in the way of easy adjustment, and frigid fingers are too stiff to strap them to your feet. But if you don’t mind taking a bit of time to get strapped in, these work well, and are reliable.

Rear-Entry Bindings are made for a quick and easy entry. With a high back that just drops down for you to step into the binding, they make it easy to get up on your board fast. No need to holler “Hold up!” With these, you’ll be waiting on your friends. They are super comfortable and supportive. And if you are stoked on the mountain and want to get as many runs in before the day is out, these will help you keep up the pace. No need to strap up every time, just adjust them once and slip your boot in the back.

How Snowboard Bindings Should Fit

Different bindings have different parts. Getting to know how each part will support your riding style can help you decide which binding works best for you. There’s toe cap straps, traditional toe straps, hybrid toe straps, ankle straps, and a single piece that straps you in, depending on the type you choose. Highbacks, and baseplates are also important to a good fit, and a great response on the mountain.

Snowboard bindings come in just three sizes, Small, Medium, and Large. If you don’t bring your boots in with you, check the manufacture’s binding size chart and ask a sales person if that brand tends to run large, or small.

Bindings and boards all have different options when it comes to mountain. Since there are a variety of hole patterns, you’ll need to get the right set for the board you have. For example: Burton boards feature the Channel system, while others use a simple 2 x 4 and 4 X 4 disc pattern, or 3D pattern.

The post How To Buy Snowboard Bindings appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Brittany Artwohl.